JV    ..  .'.f      f 


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A\l  KV  AK(  Mill  (  II  KAI   AM)  llM    ARIS  l.iliRAKN 
(ill  I  oi  Si  wun  k  B.  Di  ksi  Old  York  Liuk  \in 


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A  NARRATIVE 


OF    THE 


CELEBRATED  DYDE  SUPPER. 


'j^ifS 


A 

HABHATIVE 


GF    THE 


CELEBRATED  DYDE  SUPPER. 


BY    THE 

EDITOR  AND  PROPRIETOR 

OF    THE 

NEW- YORK  MORNING  POST  AND  MORNING  STAR. 

NEW- YORK  : 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 

1811. 


INTRODUCTION. 


^*  Who  is  here  so  base,  he  does  not  love  his  country  ; 
"  If  any,  speak,  for  him  have  I  offended. — 
"  Who's  here  so  vile,  he  would  not  be  a  freeman  ; 
"  If  any,  speak,  for  him  have  I  offended  !'' 


WHEN  we  first  sat  down  to  narrate  the  events  ac^ 
company ing  the  Dyde  Suppkr,  we  expected  to  go 
through  with  an  exposition  of  it,  in  five  or  six  pages  ; 
but  advancing  we  found  circumstances,  which  at  fir^ 
appeared  to  carry  but  little  importance  with  them, 
"Were,  by  their  consequences,  more  interesting  to  the 
community  than  we  had  imagined ;  involving,  not  only 
the  rights  of  the  people,  but  the  very  stability  of  our 
republican  form  of  government. — We  must,  therefore, 
be  permitted  to  beg  the  particular  attention  of  our 
fellow  citizens,  to  the  points  which  we  have  thought  it 
our  duty  to  treat  of;  and  we  hope  that  a  part  of  the 
community  called  "  Republican,"  who  have  hereto- 
r"'  e  ranked  among  the  number  of  thoughtless  and  in- 
attentive spectators  of  passive  events,  will  deem  it  their 
duty  to  begin  to  reflect :  more  especially  as  a  subject  b 


4 

presented  to  them  of  a  magnitude  which  may  affect 
their  political  and  social  happiness.  The  investigation 
must  necessarily  involve  the  honour  and  respectability 
of  the  republican  party.  We  trust,  therefore,  that 
men  who  have  heretofore  permitted  others  to  think 
for  them,  will  now  commence  thinking  for  them- 
selves. A  crisis  has  arrived,  which  will  put  to  the 
test  the  professions  of  men  avowing  repubhcan  princi- 
ples— which  must  determine  the  sincerity  of  the  mal- 
edictions so  bountifully  bestowed  by  them  upon  the 
heads  of  despots ;  or  whether  they  were  exclusively 
meant  for  such  despots  as  they  were  not  permitted  to 
create;  whether  they  acted  justly  towards  Mr.  Burr, 
w^hen  they  tore  into  *'  shreds  and  patches"  both  his 
moral  and  political  reputation,  and  forced  him  upon 
deeds  of  desperation,  because  they  believed  from  a 
combination  of  suspicious  acts,  that  he  had  endeavour- 
ed to  supplant  Mr.  Ji: fferson  as  president  of  the  United 
States^  and  pile  upon  the  head  of  another  individual 
official  honours,  influence  and  rewards,  notwithstand- 
ing the  act  by  which  he  bargained  away  the  rights,  lib- 
erties, and  even  reputation  of  every  one  ranking  him- 
self a  republican,  with  as  much  indiflference  as  a  petty 
German  Prince  would  barter  away  his  subjects.  Thus 
adopting  as  a  part  of  their  political  creed,  the  slavish 
doctrine  that  the  King  ca?i  do  no  wrongs  and  that  King 
Ahasuerus  must  be  obeyed  in  all  things /or  the  writing 
which  is  written  in  the  King*s  name  and  sealed  with  the 
King^s  seal  may  no  man  reverse. 


A  NARRATIVE 


OF    THE 


CELEBRATED  DYDE  SUPPER. 


IN  the  Morning  Post  of  Saturday,  the  22d  Decem- 
ber, we  gave  certain  gentlemen  an  intimation  that 
we  should  lay  before  the  public  a  history  of  the  cele- 
brated UNION  SUPPER.  We  shall  now  in  perform- 
ance of  our  promise,  give  a  simple  and  correct  narra- 
tive, so  far  as  we  had  any  thing  to  do  with  it.  When 
Mr.  Dyde  removed  hither  from  Long-Island,  he  was  in. 
troduced  to  us  by  a  distinguished  person  in  this  city  as  a 
gentleman  who  had  once  lived  in  affluence  in  London; 
but  by  a  succession  of  misfortunes  had  suffered  nearly 
the  entire  loss  of  his  property.  That  Mr.  D.  was  in 
politics  a  republican,  and  had  taken  at  a  very  heavy 
rent  the  hotel  belonging  to  Mr.  Marshall,  adjoining 
the  Theatre,  and  depended  for  the  future  support  of 
his  family  upon  his  success  in  this  new  line  of  life — 
that  it  would  oblige  him,  and  materially  serve  Mr. 
Dyde,  if  the  republican  party  would  patronize  his  un- 
dertaking. Solicitous  to  serve  a  man  so  recommended, 


yc2  meiirionod  the  affair  to  the  late  editor  of  the  Anie. 
rican  Citizen,  \vho  readily  offered  to  do  every  thing  in 
his  power  for  the  benclit  of  Mr.  Dyde.  We  suggested 
to  Mr.  C.  that  it  might  answer  that  end,  if  a  number 
of  our  political  friends  would  dine  at  his  house  imme- 
diately afrer  his  opening  of  it — that  this  would  in  a 
great  measure  tend  to  its  establishment  by  making  it 
known.  Mr.  C.  acquiesced  in  the  idea,  and  we  agreed 
to  mention  it  to  some  of  the  party,  a^number  of  whom 
v/ere  spoken  to  upon  the  subject,  \vho  all  thought  it  a 
meritorious  effort,  under  such  circumstances,  to  assist 
Mr.  D.  and  agreed  to  dine  with  us  at  his  house.  Be- 
fore a  sufficient  number,  however,  had  been  waited 
upon,  Mr.  C.  informed  us  that  he  had  some  agreeable 
intelligence  to  communicate,  which  he  had  received 
from  a  distinguished  and  mutual  friend.  This  was, 
that  the  friends  of  Mr.  Burr,  who  then  amounted  to 
some  thousands,  in  the  state,  and  many  of  whom  had 
been  eminent  and  useful  republicans,  had  proposed 
upon  our  agreeing  to  a  si/igle  condition,  that  they 
would  return  to  our  ranks  and  unite  with  us  as  afore- 
time. This  condition  was  simply  that  Mr.  B.  should 
-^e  pcrmiUcd  to  return  to  this  city-,  open  his  office  as 
Counsellor  at  Law.,  and  that  no  political  notice  should 
be  taken  of  him  en  our  part.  Mr.  B.  it  was  conceived 
was  so  completely  prostrated  that  he  could  excite  no 
political  fears,  the  proposition  was  deemed  so  liberal, 
that  it  ought  to  ensure  an  immediate  compliance,  and 
it  was  presumed  a  refusal  might  forever  estrange  from 
us  all  his  friends,  and  evince  towards  him  a  spirit  of 
unfeeling  persecution.  This  information  we  consider- 
ed as  of  the  most  cheering  nature,  and  rejoiced  at  \t 


accordingly.  The  succeeding  evening  we  called  to 
see  Mr.  De  Witt  Clinton,  and  mentioned  to  him  what; 
Mr.  Cheetham  had  communicated,  he  rephed  that  the 
information  was  correct,  that  his  friend  had  given  it  to 
Mr.  C.  according  to  the  fact,  and  that  the  friends  of 
Mr  Eurr  desired  nothing  more  than  what  Mr.  Cheet- 
ham had  mentioned.  We  then  informed  Mr.  Chnton 
what  we  had  contemplated  doing  for  Mr.  Dyde,  and  it 
occurring  to  us  that  an  opportunity  of  serving  him  to 
some  purpose  was  now  offered,  we  observed  to  Mr. 
Clinton  that  this  unexpected  union  of  so  many  old 
friends,  who  had  been  separated  for  so  long  a  time, 
ought  to  be  celebrated  in  some  way  or  other  ;  and  as 
we  had  proposed  dining  at  Mr.  Dyde's,  it  would  bo 
well  to  invite  them  to  unite  with  us  in  the  dinner  and 
drink  a  mutual  forgetfulness  of  past  differences.  Mr. 
Clinton,  without  suggesting  a  single  objection,  replied, 
that  so  many  old  friends  uniting  upon  n,  condition  so 
unexceptionable  and  honourable  to  the  party,  was  a 
subject  of  great  congratulation,  leaving  to  be  drawn 
the  very  natural  inference  that  the  thing  proposed  wa> 
by  no  means  disagreeable  to  him. 

In  a  day  or  two  after  our  conversation  with  Mr.  Clin- 
ton he  left  this  city  for  Albany  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
Senate  of  this  state.  A  very  short  time  after,  the  late 
Mr.  heetham,  Silvanus  Miller,  a  gentleman  whose 
name  it  is  not  material  to  mention  at  present,  for  whom 
we  have  ever  entertained  the  highest  esteem,  and  our- 
selves,  rode  together  a  few  miles  out  of  town  to  look 
at  some  lands  which  were  offered  for  sale.  On  our 
way  Mr.  Miller,  who  is  always  the  first  to  get  into  a 


8 


scrape,  and  not  very  fiice  about  the  means  of  getting 
out  of  one,  introduced  the  subject  of  the  return  of 
Mr.  burr's  friends  to  the  republican  party,  and  ob- 
served that  the  event  ought  to  be  celebrated,  as  we 
might  now  be  certain  of  carrying  every  thing  before 
us  in  our  contest  with  Gov.  Lewis.  Mr.  M.  spoke  of 
our  meditated  dinner  at  Mr.  Dyde's,  and  thought  it 
adviseable  to  invite  the  leading  friends  of  Mr.  Burr 
in  this  city,  to  join  with  us,  to  the  end  that  all  differ- 
ences might  thenceforth  cease.  Mr.  Cheetham  appear- 
ed anxious  for  it,  and  suggested  that  instead  of  a  din- 
ner we  should  have  a  supper,  and  that  it  should  take 
place  the  next  evening.  It  was  agreed  that  a  supper 
was  beet,  and  the  remaining  diiTiculty  was  who  should 

give  the  necessary  invitations.  Mr. said  he  could 

not  make  it  convenient  to  do  it — Mr.  Cheetham  ob- 
served that  his  time  w^as  taken  up  during  the  day  with 
his  paper — Silvanus  had  so  many  weighty  concerns  to 
attend  to  that  he  could  spare  no  time  for  it,  and  as  we 
had  no  apology  to  make,  the  trouble  devolved  upon 
us,  which,  however,  understanding  the  facts  to  be  as 
we  have  already  stated,  was  rather  a  pleasing  one. — 
This  aflair  settled,  the  conversation  immediately 
changed  to  something  else.  \\q  wish  the  reader  to 
bear  in  mind  that  this  introduction  of  the  union  by 
Mr.  Miller,  and  its  proposed  celebration  follovved  al- 
most directly  upon  the  heels  of  what  had  passed  be- 
tween his  honour  and  us  upon  the  same  subject.  We 
shall  see  in  tlie  sequel  how  dextrously  Mr.  M.  effected 
his  escape  from  the  vengrance  of  the  republican  party. 
To  proceed,  (lie  ne.\t  day  arrived  iind  we  lost  no  time 
in  calling  upon  Docl.  Peter  Irving,  and  stating  to  him 


what  had  passed  the  day  before,  observed,  that  un- 
derstanding all  difficulties  had  been  satisfactorily  ad- 
justed,  it  would  be  a  very  agreeable  thing  if  he  and 
his  friends  would  join  us  in  the  contemplated  supper. 
Dr.  Irving  expressed  himself  pleased  with  the  pro- 
posal, and  volunteered  his  services  to  give  on  his  part 
the  necessary  invitations,  but  thought  it  best  to  defer 
it  until  Messrs.  Chnton  and  Swartwout's  return,  that 
one  might  act  as  President,  and  the  other  as  Vice- 
President  of  the  feast.  He  acquiesced,  how^ever,  upon 
our  mentioning  to  him  that  there  were  difficulties  in 
the  w^ay  of  a  postponement,  as  Mr.  Dyde  was  getting 
every  thing  ready  for  the  entertainment.  During  the 
day,  he  conferred  with  Mr.  Pierre  C.  Van  Wyck,  as 
we  were  informed  upon  the  subject  of  the  supper. 

Dr.  Irving  having  agreed  to  invite  his  friend:^,  it  IjG- 
came  our  duty  to  call  upon  ours,  that  the  invitations 
might  be  as  general  as  the  shprt  interval  of  time  would 
admit ;  some  we  saw  in  person,  and  some  we  invited 
by  letter.  In  the  evening  sixty-five  gentlemen  of  both 
parties  met  at  Mr.  Dyde's.  A  stranger  who  had  wit- 
nessed the  fraternal  hugs  and  shaking  of  hands,  would 
indeed  have  concluded  it  was  a  joyous  and  happy 
meeting.  Every  face  wore  a  smile,  and  every  eye 
was  moistened  by  the  recollection  of  old  friendships. 
We  viewed  the  Burr-Party  as  so  many  Prodigal 
Sons,  who  had  returned  to  their  Father's  dwelling  full 
of  sorrow  for  their  former  follies ;  and  yet  we  cannot 
but  allow  that  it  appeared  strange  to  us  that  so  many 
men,  some  of  whom  were  gentlemen  of  distinguished 

tulents,  should  so  suddenly  abandon  Mr.  Burr,  and 

B 


10 

virtually  acknowledge,  by  Iheir  conduct,  that  they 
had  been  weak  enough  to  have  been  made  his  dupes. 
At  an  early  hour  Mr.  Dyde  announced  that  supper 
"was  upon  the  table,  and  a  magnificent  one  it  was. — 
The  arrangements  of  President  and  Vice-President 
being  made,  the  Union  party  sat  down  to  table,  and 
after  the  glass  had  gone  briskly  round.  Col.  Smith 
called  upon  Dr.  Irving  for  a  toast,  who  gave — 

Thomas  Jefferson,  the  Preside/it  of  the  United  States. 

A  similar  call  was  soon  after  made,  and  his  Excel- 
lency, George  Clinton,  w^as  drank.  A  third  foUow- 
lowed,  and  Dr.  Irving  gave — 

Aaron  Burr,  late  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States — dignified  in  the  chair — prompt  in  the  cabinet 
— GALLANT  in  thc  field — may  his  country  duly  appre- 
ciate his  talents  and  his  services. 

Six  cheers  was  moved  for  by  some  one  present,  but 
whom  w^e  do  not  recollect.  The  company  arose,  but 
the  friends  of  Mr.  Burr  seemed  to  have  all  the  sport 
to  themselves,  for  excepting  Silvanus  Miller,  and  two 
or  three  more,  the  rest  all  stared  at  each  other  with 
the  wildness  of  persons  suddenly  awakened  out  of  a 
dream.  Our  friend,  Mr.  Naphtali  Judah,  who  appear- 
ed to  have  the  coolest  head  present,  looked  bla?ik^  and 
was  off  like  a  shot.  He  perceived  that  this  was  likely  to 
turn  out  but  a  bad  Lottery^  and  got  rid  of  his  share  of 
it  in  a  trice  This  toast  seemed  very  unlike  the  single 
condition  that  Mr.  Clinton  had  spoken  of,  and  which 


11 

influenced  those  v^hom  we  had  invited  to  attend  the 
supper.  If  it  had  been  true  as  was  represented  by  Mr. 
C.  that  we  were  simply  to  refrain  from  attacking  Mr. 
Burr,  it  Wiis  very  strange  that  the  company  should  be 
called  upon  by  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends  so 
highly  to  eulogize  him.  These  reflections  occurred  to 
us,  but  we  were  embarrassed  at  the  moment  and  knew 
not  what  to  do.  After  a  little  more  ot  Mr.  Dyde's 
London  Particular^  Dr.  Irving  gave  the  following 
toast : — 

De  Witt  Clinton,  a  firm  and  virtuous  Republican. 

Which  was  drank  with  nine  cheers. 

Let  us  state  to  our  readers  that  the  foregoing  toasts 
were  all  read  from  a  written  paper,  and  were  doubt- 
less prepared  for  the  occasion  during  the  day  by  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Burr,  who  had  a  better  knowledge  of 
the  nature  of  the  alleged  conciliation  than  most  of  us 
were  permitted  to  know  any  thing  about.  Some  of 
the  friends  of  Mr  Clintox  being  now  called  upon, 
Mr.  Silvanus  Miller,  who  it  is  probable  knew  the  whole 
secret  of  the  union,  gave  the  following  toast : 

A  UNION  in  principle  and  a  union  of  HONEST 
MEN. 

By  this  time  we  felt  prepared  to  drink  forgiveness 
to  every  thing  human,  whether  Savage,  Sage  or  Turk  : 
and  Col.  Few,  who  had  been  as  innocently  led  to  the 


12 

Political  bridal  feasts  as  a  lamb  to  the  si  aught  er-home^ 
gave— 

Feace  on  Earthy  and  good  will  to  all  Mankind, 

Soon  after  this,  each  man  left  the  room  in  the  best 
manner  possible,  and  it  is  related  much  to  their  credit, 
that  not  one  among  them,  found  their  way  to  the 
"  watch-house." 

The  Republican  party  not  feeling  quite  so  much 
good  will  towards  all  mankind  as  Col.  Few^  were  the 
next  day  up  in  arms ;  strict  search  w^as  every  where 
made  for  the  conspirators,  but  for  some  time  none  could 
be  found.  Hearing  that  Silvanus  had  reiterated  Aaron 
Burr's  celebrated  toast,  they  went  in  pursuit  of  him, 
but  the  "  Sylvan  Swain"  was  not  to  be  seen ;  where 
he  had  secreted  himself,  no  one  can  tell,  but  doubtless 
the  place  of  his  retreat  must  have  been  extremely  neat 
and  cleanly,  as  this  gentleman's  predilection  for  purity 
both  of  person  and  mind  is  well  known.  At  length  he 
made  his  appearance,  obliged  we  presume  by  *'  hun- 
ger, and  request  of  friends,"  that  he  w^ould  endeavour 
to  put  a  plausible  face  on  the  business  and  bring  them 
oflfin  some  way  or  other;  and  when  some  of  our  ex- 
asperated jepal)licans  found  out  this  friend  of  honest 
77U  n,  who  is  now  a  chief  writer  for  the  Columbian,  and 
who  ought  to  have  been  hanged  ten  years  since /or  his 
fad  verses^  they  pounced  upon  him  like  so  many  birds 
of  prey.  Silvanus  vowed  to  Heaven  that  no  Uwtb  was 
♦-ver  more  innocent  than  he ;  that  he  should  never  had 
iim\Q  to  the  '^  cursed"  supper  but  for  that  "  damn'd" 


13 

Kose,  and  would  undertake  to  get '«  twelve  good  and 
lawful  men  within  his  bailiwick"  to  swear  to  the  same 
thing.  This,  together  with  the  miserable  appeanince 
of  the  poor  culprit,  moderated  their  anger  in  some  de- 
gree, and  they  left  the  Sylvan  mourner  rather  more 
composed  than  they  had  found  him.  A  committee 
was  appointed  for  the  preparation  of  resolutions  to  be 
passed  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  Republicans,  then 
about  to  be  called — as  God  vrould  have  it,  Nathan 
Sanford  was  one  of  the  committee,  who  being  a  man 
of  mercy,  was  moved  with  compassion  for  our  situa- 
tion ;  and  considering  too  that  most  of  us  had  families, 
and  that  our  wives  and  children  could  not  well  afford 
to  lefe  us  die  yet,  did  every  thing  ii^fcis  power  to  mo- 
derate the  fury  of  the  party  ;  and  through  his  humane 
efforts,  God  bless  him  for  it,  w^e  were  all  permitted  to 
escape  with  our  lives.  The  resolutions  being  agreed 
upon,  the  following  notice  appeared  in  the  American 
Citizen,  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  February,  1806. 

'*  REPUBLICANS  ATTEND! 

gy'  A  General  Meeting  of  the  Kepublican  Citizens 
is  requested  at  Martling's  THIS  EVENING,  the  25th 
instant,  a  7  o'clock,  on  matters  of  great  importance  to 
their  repution  and  interest." 

In  the  evening  thousands  assembled,  boiling  with 
indignation  ;  and  when  the  resolutions  which  had  been 
previou.^ly  prepared  by  the  committee  were  read,  it 
was  scarcely  possible  to  restrain  the  anger  of  the  popu- 
lace upon  finding  them  as  they  imagined  so  much  too 


14 

mild  for  the  occasion :  finally,  however,  they  were 
adopted,  and  that  our  readers  may  have  an  entire  view 
of  the  subject,  we  republish  the  following  proceedings 
of  the  evening : 

^*  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Republican  Citizens  un- 
usually numerous,  convened  at  Murtling's  Long 
Koom,  on  Tuesday  eveniiig,  Feb.  25th,  1806,  in 
consequence  of  various  reports  and  publications, 
tending  to  induce  a  belief,  that  a  coalition  or  re- union 
had  been  formed  between  the  Republican  party  in 
this  state  and  the  Burritcs^  derogatory  to  the  honor 
and  interest  of  the  Republicans. 

Thomas  Far  mar,  in  the  chair. 

IcHABOD  Pral  .,  Secretary. 

Resolved^  That  it  is  inconsistent  with  the  honor  and 
dignity  of  the  Republican  party  in  this  state,  to  enter 
into  any  bargain,  treaty,  or  aUiance  with  any  other 
party  whatever. 

Resolved^  That  it  would  not  only  be  degrading  to 
us,  but  injurious  to  the  Republican  interest,  silently  to 
submit  to  what  any  person  or  persons^  may  attempt  to 
do  unauthorized  by  the  great  body  of  Republicans. 

Resolved^  That  this  meeting  do  not  acknowledge  the 
proceedings  of  a  meeting  of  certain  persons  at  Dyde's 
Hotel  on  the  1 8th  inst.  as  the  act  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  expressly  disavow  and  disapprove  of  the 
same. 


15 


Resolved,  Tliat  Aaron  Burr  does  not,  and  ought  not 
to  possess  the  confidence  of  the  Republican  party. 

Resolved,  Tliat  the  Republicans  of  this  state  are  wil- 
ling at  all  times  to  receive  as  friends,  such  of  their  po- 
litical opponents,  as  may  show  by  their  conduct,  that 
they  have  adopted  Republican  principles. 

Thomas  Farmar,  Chairman. 

IcHABOD  Prall,  SecVy.'' 

We  will  venture  to  say,  that  if  the  meeting  had  then 
known,  what  Marcl's  has  since  disclosed  respecting 
the  nature  of  the  Uniox,  Mr.  De  Witt  riinton  might 
have  exclaimed  with  Shakspeare's  Moor,  "  Othello's 
occupation's  gone." 

The  proceedings  at  Martling's  being  so  w^ell  over, 
our  situation  became  a  little  more  comfortable  ;  for  the 
fact  being  so  well  known  of  our  giving  the  invitations, 
and  being  accused  by  so  many  innocent  and  virtuous 
l^oung  men  of  being  the  author  of  the  plot,  when  ia 
fact, we  were  nothing  but  the  "  marplot^''*  we  must  own, 
that  for  a  whole  week  we  trembled  like  an  aspen  leaf, 
expecting  every  moment  to  be  carried  to  the  Gulloiinc, 
Immediately  after  the  toasts,  which  we  drank  at  the 
supper,  appeared  in  the  Citizen,  the  paper  containing 
them  was  sent,  by  mail,  to  Mr.  Clinton,  in  Albany, 
Mr.  Cheetham  had  at  first  refused  to  publish  them,  but 
upon  advising  with  his  friends,  who  suspected  that 
there  had  been  foul  play  somewhere,  he  concluded  it 
would  be  best  to  let  them  appear,  knowing  that  the 
Republican  party  would  immediately  rise  in  rel^ellion 


16 

ttgahist  them.  This  %vas  to  be  inferred,  considering 
how  much  its  honour  had  been  sullied,  by  eulogizing 
the  man,  who  had  so  lately,  through  their  particular 
exertion?,  aided  by  his  ambitious  and  anti-republican 
conduct,  lost  all  his  political  consequence ;  Qesar  said 
Brutus  "  was  ambitious  and  therefore  I  slew  him/' 
Bl'rr  was  ambitious,  and  the  Republican  party  had 
abandoned  him. — When  the  paper  containing  the  ac- 
count of  the  supper  reached  Albany,  it  is  said,  that 
much  apprehension  was  visible  in  the  countenance  of 
a  certain  ambitious  Senator,  lest  the  exploits  of  *'  the 
evening"  should  not  be  generally  approved  of  by  his 
friends.  In  order,  however,  to  reconcile  tliem  to  it, 
the  article  which  we  subjoin,  appeared  in  Holt's  Bke, 
a  little  paper  about  the  size  of  that  insect,  which  has 
always  been  a  kind  of  conveniency  to  the  lordly  tribe, 
and  it  requires  no  witch  to  inform  us  who  wrote  it. 
We  beg  the  reader  to  peruse  it  with  the  attention  of 
a  man  in  close  pursuit  of  truth.  He  will  perceive  that 
its  every  sentence  speaks  too  plainly  to  be  misunder- 
stood— it  throws  more  light  on  a  formerly  dark  and 
mysterious  subject  than  has  yet  pierced  through  the 
gloom  which  has  enveloped  it.  Without  tlie  '*  Dyde 
supper*'  vve  might  have  continued  in  ignorance  to  this 
day.  It  is  well  known  that  our  modern  Ciesar  "  can 
bear  no  rival  near  his  throne;''  he  would  rather  be 
'•  the  first  man  in  a  village,  than  the  second  in  Rome." 
The  Livingston  family,  powerful  by  wealth  and  talents, 
stood  in  his  way.  'I  his  family  was  too  much  of  an 
eye  sore  to  remain  unattacked,  and  to  prostrate  Ihem  it 
was  necessary  to  begin  with  Gov.  Lewis,  whose  son  in- 
law is  a  Livingston.    There  a]>peared,  however,  insur- 


17 

mountable  difficulties  in  the  way,  unless  the  friends  of 
Mr.  Burr  could  be  brought  in  opposition.  This  may 
perhaps  furnish  a  clew  to  certain  "  unauthorised  trans- 
actions," but  fortunately  for  our  Senator,  the  alTair 
of  the  Merchants'  Bank  furnished  a  fruitful  source  of 
declamation  against  his  excellency,  which  was  dex- 
terously improved,  and  his  rival  succeeded  withjut  tho 
aid  of  the  Burrites.  The  article  towards  which  we 
wish  to  call  the  reader's  attention,  is  the  following — 

From  the  IIudso7i  Bee, 

Mr.  Holt, 

I  have  read  the  address  of  Phocion  in  your  lasC 
paper  with  some  attention.  Independent  of  party  at- 
tachment, I  perceive  the  fidelity  of  his  narration,  and 
acknowledge  the  justness  of  his  deductions.  He 
speaks  the  language  of  manly  feeling  and  correct  sen- 
timent. An  unbiassed  spectator  in  the  theatre  of 
politics,  I  have  of  late  considered  the  situation  of  the 
adherents  of  Col.  Burr  with  a  degree  of  interest.— 
They  have  recognized  the  dehcacy  of  their  relative 
standing  in  the  state,  and  by  the  discretion  and  good 
policy  of  their  demeanour  have  removed  prejudices 
and  extorted  respect.  Their  return  into  the  bosom  of 
the  republican  party,  from  which  they  have  been  con- 
sidered as  alienated,  appears  now  to  be  a  matter  of 
course  and  natural  con-equence.  For  my  part,  what- 
ever charges  and  recriminaiions  were  interchanged  by 

C 


18 

those  gentletcen  and  their  adversaries,  in  the  bicker- 
ings of  an  electioneering  struggle,  I  never  understood 
them  to  have  pointedly  abandoned  the  great  standard 
of  republicanism  in  their  disagreement  with  "  brethren 
of  the  same  principle"  on  the  merits  of  two  candi- 
dates, w^ho  had  both  stood  high  in  the  general  confi- 
dence. They  supported  Col.  Burr  on  the  ground  of 
his  republicanism,  and  opposed  his  rival  on  account 
of  his  aristocratical  connexions  and  propensities.  And 
their  co-operation  with  the  federalists  in  the  election, 
I  view  as  arising  more  from  personal  irritation  excited 
between  the  Lewisites  and  Burrites  (so  called)  than 
from  any  desire  in  the  latter  to  re-establish  the  reign 
of  federalism.  It  is  true,  much  local  injury  will  be  sus- 
tained, and  much  personal  acrimony  and  altiercation 
remain  to  be  forgiven,  in  the  result  of  every  contested 
election,  from  the  manner  in  which  they  are  conduct- 
ed in  this  country.  But  when  the  causes  of  these  dis. 
sentions  are  removed,  every  good  citizen  must  wish 
and  promote  the  return  of  harmofiy  and  concord. 

In  regard  to  Col.  Burr,  it  is  not  very  probable  he 
will  soon  if  ever  again  become  the  object  or  leader  of 
a  party  in  this  state.  This  point,  I  conceive  require^ 
no  elucidation.  The  other  point  of  difference  between 
his  friends  and  tlie  Lewisites,  however,  the  support  of 
the  ari>?tocratical  pretensions  of  the  governor's  family, 
remains  to  be  settled.  To  this  family,  and  their  influ- 
ence, the  great  body  of  the  Burrites  appears  to  remain 


19 

inflexibly  opposed.  And  this  opposition  must  be  re- 
conciled to  the  Repubhcan  interest  of  the  state,  beforG 
the  Burrites  can  be  restored  to  their  originul  standing 
with  ihe  Repubhcan  party.  Here,  fortunately,  per- 
haps for  both  parties,  circumstanct's  have  transformed 
the  collision  of  their  interest  into  an  union  oi  sentiir.ent 
and  action.  The  departure  of  C'overnor  Lewis  uovx 
the  views  and  affections  from  the  mass  of  his  support- 
ers, and  his  confirming  the  suggestions  of  the  Burrites 
in  ihi^  ag^randizemeiit  of  his  connexions,  leaves  no 
room  for  a  contrariety  of  sentiment  on  the  subjec^ 
The  late  adherents  of  Col.  Burr,  with  the  friends  of  tho 
Clinton  party,  or  Clintonians,  (to  continue  the  use  of 
the  vulgar  distinctions)  must  with  equal  sincerity  and 
zeal  unite  in  this  point  of  their  former  contention.  It 
is  not  a  little  singular  that  the  candidates  of  both  par- 
ties should  be  deserted  by  their  electors.  I  will  not 
gay  they  have  both  deceived  their  friends ;  this  is  best 
known  to  the  parties  themselves.  But  that  they  are 
both  deserted  by  those  who  contend  for  their  elevation 
to  the  executive  chair,  as  future  candidates  for  that 
important  office,  cannot  at  this  day  be  denied. 

What,  then,  can  remain  as  an  obstacle  to  the  re- 
union an  d  co-operation  of  the  two  parties  ?  What  se- 
parate or  clashing  designs  or  interests  can  subsist  be- 
tween them  ?  I  know  of  none.  Indeed,  as  I  cannot 
pretend  that  I  ever  wished  or  obtained  admission  to  the 
particular  arcana  of  either  party,  it  13  obvious  that  my 


20 

remarks  are  founded  on  general  aad  impartial  views. 
I  ^peak  as  a  friend  to  political //(7/7/w;iy,  desirous  of  ob- 
literating tiie  injudicious  and  unprofitable  exacerba- 
tions of  the  past  and  avoiding  unnecessary  misunder- 
standing and  miogaided  predilections,  in  the  present 
and  lUiure.  Supremely  gratified  should  I  be,  could  I 
extend  my  ideas  to  an  union  of  the  Federalists  and 
the  Governor's  family  svith  the  Republican  party  But 
I  too  well  know  the  impossioility  of  reconciling  inve- 
terate and  deep  rooted  principles,  and  prejudices  eman- 
ating from  self-love,  with  a  system  of  politics  opposite 
in  its  nature,  and  a  determination  to  maintain  that 
system  at  the  expense  of  all  favoritism  and  family  in- 
fluence. I  shall  therefore  confine  myself  to  atteujpt- 
ing  the  repair  of  breaches  capable  of  reconciliation, 
and  the  restoration  of  harmony  where  it  may  be  efiect- 
ed.  In  %^he  relative  conditions  of  the  two  parties  I  have 
been  considering,  (though  I  am  so  little  interested  that 
I  voted  neither  for  Col  Burr  nor  Col  Lewis)  I  could 
net  but  perceive  the  facility  with  which  the  prosperity 
of  both  might  be  advanced,  without  injury  fo  the  feel- 
ings of  eitlier,  by  a  mutual  understanding,  and  dispo- 
sition 10  forget  prior  differences  in  subsequent  advan- 
tages. And  indeed  I  should  be  little  mistaken  if  com- 
mon i-efxection  and  common  benefits  had  already  pro- 
duced the  result  I  have  contemplated. 

ARISTIDES. 


31 


P.  S.  In  counting  on  the  justice,  the  magnanimity 
and  the  good  iaith  of  the  two  parties,  I  trust  I  calcu- 
late on  a  basis  which  n^ay  be  relied  on  without  fear. 
Indeed,  when  the  professions  and  interests  of  mankind 
are  in  strict  unison,  it  would  be  absurd  to  apprehend 
their  opposition  and  defeat  from  the  passions.  The 
jealousy  of  the  most  suspicious  may  therefore  safely  be 
trusted  with  the  experiment.  And  the  result,  if  auspi- 
cious, would  secure  to  the  strong  2i  permanent  and  pa- 
ramoufit  ascendency,  and  to  the  weak  a  participation 
in  influence  and  consideration  of  which  they  have  now 
no  possession,  and  to  which  in  their  present  state  thoy 
can  make  no  forcible  claim.  The  latter  would  also 
rise  from  the  condition  of  agents  and  instruments,  in 
which  they  have  been  hitherto  considered  by  those 
who  made  use  of  them  on  former  occasions,  to  the 
rank  of  prinapah  and  partners  in  the  labors  and  ho- 
nors of  the  political  warftire.  Thus  every  motive  calLs 
on  them  to  re-embrace  their  "  first  love,"  and  accord 
the  hand  of  fellowship  with  their  old  friends  and  asso- 
ciates. A. 

We  presume  no  comments  on  the  above  are  neces- 
sary, we  leave  every  one  to  form  his  own  conclusions. 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  Clinton's  attempt  to  harmo- 
nize brethren  of  the  same  principle^  the  Republican 
party,  \o  vindicate  its  sullied  honour,  lost  no  time  in 
acquitting  itself  from  the  reproach  which  had  been 


22 

heaped  upon  it.  Their  measures  were  effectual,  and 
the  accommodation  was  for  some  time  believed  by  the 
public  to  have  been  a  thing  entirely  unauthorized. 
The  reproach  fell  upon  us,  as  having  inveigled  so 
m^ivji/mocent  and  unsuspecting  men,  and  drawn  them 
into  a  scrape  where  their  honour  and  political  conse- 
quence was  to  be  lost :  and  ns^e  being  unable,  at  that 
time,  to  explain  the  affair,  submitted  in  silence. 
The  opposstion  to  Gov.  Lewis  was  now  rapidly  ma- 
turing. The  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  finding  themselves 
overlooked  by  the  Republican  party,  incensed  at  the 
perfidious  conduct  of  Mr.  Clinton,  and  also  feeling 
satisfied,  that  however  honest  the  mass  of  Repub- 
licans might  be  in  their  opposition,  there  was  more  of 
ambition  than  honesty  in  his  views — that  the  people 
might  have  a  better  knowledge  of  his  character,  deem- 
ed it  proper  to  publish  some  account  of  the  power  he 
assumed  in  bargaining  for  a  union  of  the  Burrites  with 
the  Republican  party.  Accordingly,  a  short  time 
after  Dyde  Supper,  and  before  the  election  of  Gover- 
nor came  on,  a  writer  under  the  signature  of  MAR- 
CUS, published  a  series  of  letters  addressed  to  Mr. 
Clinton,  which  appeared  in  the  Poughkeepsie  Barom. 
eter.  It  is  unimportant  to  the  community  to  inquire 
who  the  writer  of  MARCUS  is.  The  only  material 
question  for  discussion  is,  are  the  facts  mentioned  by 
him  true — if  true,  does  not  the  conclusion  irresistibly 
follow  that  Mr.  Clinton  ought  not  to  possess  the  confi- 
dence of  any  one,  sincerely  attached  to  that  liberty 


25 

secured  to  us  by  our  Republican  institutions.  The 
nariiitive  contained  in  these  letters,  will  be  found  in- 
teresting.   It  commences  as  follows. 

"About  the  24th  of  December,  1805,  Mr.  Levi 
M*Keen,  of  Poughkeepsie,  arrived  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  and  iiliortly  after  called  on  different  gentlemen 
among  his  political  friends,  stating  to  them  that  over- 
tures had  been  made  by  the  CUntoniam^  to  form  an 
union  with  the  Bunites,  and  his  opinion  that  the  plan 
was  feasible.  He  added  that  he  had  conversed  with 
Gen.  Bailey  on  the  subject,  and  was  desirous  thaJ 
Col.  Swartwout  should  consent  to  an  interview  for  the 
same  purpose.  Mr  M'Keen  was  informed  that  there 
were  numerous  and  almost  insurmountable  obstacles 
to  such  a  measure,  inasmuch  as  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr 
could  never  place  conlidence  in  the  engagements  of  De 
Witt  Clinton,  until  he  should  have  done  soine  act^  in- 
dicative of  his  sincerity. 

"  It  was  then  suggested,  that  as  Mr.  Chnton  had  not 
the  power  of  giving  offices  at  that  moment,  and  thus 
pubicly  committing  himself,  he  should  give  to  the 
friends  of  Col.  Burr,  pecuniary  aid  through  the  medi- 
um of  the  Manhattan  Bank,  of  which  he  was  a  direc 
tor :  and  from  which  Bank  they  were  almost  totally 
secluded,  by  a  system  of  intolerance  and  persecution. 

This  point,  after  two  or  three  days'  discussion,  was 
conceded  as  reasonable  and  proper.    Hitherto  Mr, 


M'Keen  and  General  Bailey  were  the  only  agents ; 
but  the  affair  assuming  a  more  important  aspect,  it  be- 
came necessary  that  some  persons  residing  in  the  City 
of  New-1:  ork,  known  to  be  friendly  to  Col.  Burr, 
should  undertake  the  arrangement:  and  Col.  John 
Swartwout  was  selected.  It  was,  however,  determin- 
ed, that  no  movement  should  be  made,  on  the  part  of 
the  Burrites,  but  by  solicitation. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  M'Kcen  left  the  City  of 
New- York,  and  on  the  7th  Mr.  Swartwout  received 
from  Gen.  Baiiey  a  written  note,  inviting  him  to  spend 
an  hour  with  him  that  evening,  which  invitation  was 
accepted.  After  some  desultory  conversation,  the 
plan  of  terminating  the  division  between  the  Burrites 
and  the  Clintonians  was  introduced  by  Gen.  Bailey. 
Mr.  Swartwout  immediately  inquired  whether  he  was 
authorised  by  the  Mayor,  or  merely  spoke  as  Gen. 
Bailey  in  his  private  capacity.  The  General  replied, 
that  he  was  authorized  by  Mr.  Clinton.  They  then 
proceeded  to  the  discussion  of  the  subject ;  and  their 
interview  lasted  about  four  hours.  Mr  Swartwout  re- 
marked, however,  as  a  preliminary  to  the  discussion, 
that  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr  retained  their  respect  and 
esteem  for  that  gentleman  ;  that  his  friends  were  their 
friends,  and  his  enemies  their  enemies. 

From  this  day  until  the  1  ;th  of  January,  the  inter- 
views between  Gen.  Bailey  and  Col.  Swartwout  were 


^5 

almost  daily.  At  some  of  their  meetings  R.  Rikei 
was  present ;  at  others j  Pierre  C.  Van  Wyck.  Dur- 
ing the  whole  negociation,  however,  Mr.  Glinton  ne- 
ver consulted  any  person  or  persons,  it  is  believed,  bus 
those  above  named. 

The  character  of  Richard  Riker  is  w^ell  known. — 
His  instability  as  a  politician  is  notorious.  Ii:  1798, 
he  was  conspicuous  as  a  federalist,  and  in  the  public 
market  triumphed  at  the  success  of  the  federal  ticket 
in  the  city  of  New^-York.  To  De  Witt  Clinton,  since 
his  appointment  to  office,  he  is  as  the  pilot-fish  to  the 
sharks 

P.  C.  Van  Wyclw  is  a  young  man,  unacquainted 
with  the  political  concerns  of  the  state,  and  conse- 
quently a  very  incompetent  judge  of  measures  of 

policy. 

On  the  llth  of  January  the  terms  of  an  union  of 
Burrism  and  Clintonianism,  was  concluded,  and  they 
were  as  follows : 

Firstly — That  Col.  Burr  should  be  recognized  by 
the  union  party,  as  a  republican. 

Secondly— Th2it  theEditor  of  the  American  Citizen 
should  desist  from  all  attacks  upon  him  or  his  friends  ; 
that  he  should  advocate  the  union,  if  it  became  ne- 
cessary, in  his  paper ;  and  that  he  should  not  defend 
the  Burrltes  as  rcturmng  to  republican  principles,  they 

persisting  that  they  never  had  abandoned  them. 

1) 


26 

Thirdly — That  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  as  it  res- 
pected appointments  to  offices  of  honor  or  profit, 
throughout  the  state,  sliould  be  placed  on  the  same 
footing  as  the  most  favoured  Clintonians ;  and  that 
their  Burrism  should  never  be  urged  as  an  objection 
to  their  filling  those  offices. 

Fourth! y—Th^ii  at  the  approaching  election  in  April, 
the  Burrites  should  have  a  portion  of  at  least  one  third 
of  the  Representatives  of  the  City  and  County  of  New- 
York    in  the  State  Legislature. 

jP//?%— That  De  Witt  Clinton  should  see  that  they 
(the  Burrites)  were  accommodated  to  any  reasonable 
amount  they  might  require  in  the  Manhattan  Bank, 
and  that  he  should  actually  procure  for  an  individual, 
in  the  course  of  the  next  week,  an  accommodation, 
in  said  Bank,  of  at  least  SI 8,000  ! ! 

Such  were  the  conditions  of  the  union,  as  conclud- 
ed on  the  morning  of  the  11  th  of  January.  Mr. 
Swartwout  having  reported  the  result  of  his  negocia- 
tions,  it  was  their  opinion  that  Gen.  Bailey  ought  to 
repeat  them  to  some  other  friend  of  Col.  Burr.  The 
General  was  noticed  of  this  circumstance,  and  cheer- 
fully assented.  Accordingly,  on  the  same  day,  about 
one  o'clock,  Mr.  Mat.  L.  Davis  accompanied  Mr. Swart- 
wout, by  appointment,  to  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey, 
whL're,  in  the  presence  of  those  two  gentlemen,  he 
repeated  the  above  terms  as  the  basis  of  a  reconcilia- 
tioD. 


27 

On  Monday,  the  13th  January,  the  Manhattan 
Bank,  in  pursuance  of  the  above  arrangement,  dis- 
counted, for  the  accommodation  of  a  distinguished 
Burrite,  a  note  of  Nine  Thousand  Dollars  :  and  on 
Thursday,  the  16th,  another  note  of  Nine  Thoinand 
Dollars^  for  the  accommodation  of  the  same  person, 
making  the  Eighteen  Thousand  Dollars^  stipulated  for 
in  the  5th  article. 

Other  friends  of  Col.  Burr  were  accommodated  with 
smaller,  but  very  considerable  sums,  who  could  not 
previously  obtain  one  cent  from  the  coffers  of  that  in- 
stitution. 

Mr.  Clinton  having  thus  giveti  a  pledge  of  his  sin- 
cerity ;  it  was  agreed,  that  an  interview  should  take 
place  between  him  and  Col.  Swartwout.  Thursday 
evening,  the  16th,  at  6  o'clock,  at  the  house  of  Gen. 
Bailey,  by  arrangement,  they  met.  About  7  o'clock, 
Mr.  Clinton's  counsellors  and  advisers,  Riker  and  Van 
Wyck,  came  into  the  room  to  express  their  heartfelt 
satisfaction  at  this  union  of  hokest  men.  They  re- 
mained about  an  hour  and  then  retired. 

It  had  been  previously  determined  that  the  leaders 
of  the  Clinton  party  should  manage  their  own  men  in 
their  own  way,  and  that  no  communication  should  be 
made  by  the  Burrites,  to  the  followers  of  Mr.  Clinton. 

On  the  1 1th,  the  union  was  concluded  ;  on  Ww  13th 
a  part  of  the  conditions  were  carried  into  operation ; 
on  the  16tb,  Mr.  Clinton  and  Mr.  Swartwout  had  their 


26 

Thirdly — That  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr,  as  U  res- 
pected appointments  to  offices  of  honor  or  profit, 
throughout  the  state,  sliould  be  placed  on  the  same 
footing  as  the  most  favoured  Clintonians ;  and  that 
their  Burrism  should  never  be  urged  as  an  objection 
to  their  filling  those  offices. 

jPo/zr?/;/?/— That  at  the  approaching  election  in  April, 
the  Burrites  should  have  a  portion  of  at  least  one  third 
of  the  Representatives  of  the  City  and  County  of  New- 
York    in  the  State  Legislature. 

jP///%~That  De  Witt  Clinton  should  see  that  they 
(the  Burrites)  were  accommodated  to  any  reasonable 
amount  they  might  require  in  the  Manhattan  Bank, 
and  that  he  should  actually  procure  for  an  individual, 
in  the  course  of  the  next  week,  an  accommodation, 
in  said  Bank,  of  at  least  818,000  ! ! 

Such  were  the  conditions  of  the  union,  as  conclud- 
ed on  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  January.  Mr. 
Swartwout  having  reported  the  result  of  his  negocia- 
tions,  it  was  their  opinion  that  Gen.  Bailey  ought  to 
repeat  them  to  some  other  friend  of  Col.  Burr.  The 
General  was  noticed  of  this  circumstance,  and  cheer- 
fully assented.  Accordingly,  on  the  same  day,  about 
one  o'clock,  Mr.  Mat.  L.  Davis  accompanied  Mr. Swart- 
wout, by  appointment,  to  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey, 
where,  in  the  presence  of  those  two  gentlemen,  he 
repeated  the  above  terms  as  the  basis  of  a  reconcilia- 
tion. 


27 

On  Monday,  the  13th  January,  the  Manhattan 
Bank,  in  pursuance  of  the  above  arrangement,  dis- 
counted, for  the  accommodation  of  a  distinguished 
Burrite,  a  note  of  Nine  Thousand  Dollars  :  and  on 
Thursday,  the  16th,  another  note  of  Nine  Thousand 
Dollars,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  same  person, 
making  the  Eighteen  Thousand  Dollars^  stipulated  for 
in  the  5th  article. 

Other  friends  of  Col.  Burr  were  accommodated  with 
smaller,  but  very  considerable  sums,  who  could  not 
previou?Iy  obtain  one  cent  from  the  coffers  of  that  in- 
stitution. 

Mr.  Clinton  having  thus  given  a.  pledge  of  his  sin- 
cerity ;  it  was  agreed,  that  an  interview  should  take 
place  between  him  and  Col.  Swartwout.  Thursday 
evening,  the  16th,  at  6  o'clock,  at  the  house  of  Gen. 
Bailey,  by  arrangement,  they  met.  About  7  o'clock, 
Mr.  Clinton's  counsellors  and  advisers,  Riker  and  Van 
Wyck,  came  into  the  room  to  express  their  heartfelt 
satisfaction  at  this  union  of  hokest  men.  They  re- 
mained about  an  hour  and  then  retired. 

It  had  been  previously  determined  that  the  leaders 
of  the  Chnton  party  should  manage  their  own  men  in 
their  own  way,  and  that  no  communication  should  be 
made  by  the  Burrites,  to  the  followers  of  Mr.  Clinton. 

On  the  1 1  th,  the  union  was  concluded ;  on  i\w  1 3th 
a  part  of  the  conditions  were  carried  into  operation ; 
on  the  16tb,  Mr.  Clinton  and  Mr.  Swartwout  had  their 


28 


interview;  and  yet,  on  the  17th,  there  was  not  an  in- 
dividual member  of  the  Legislature,  Riker  excepted, 
•vho  had  the  most  distant  suspicion  of  such  an  event 
having  taken  place;  because  on  that  day,  the  17th, 
and  the  next,  both  James  Warner  and  Francis  Coop- 
er, w^ere  busily  employed  with  Riker,  in  endeavouring 
to  bring  about  this  desirable  reconciliation.  These 
men  were  honest  and  sincere  ;  but  they  will  perceive, 
while  communicating  and  planning  with  Riker  as  to 
the  best  means  to  accomplish  the  object,  he  was  laugh- 
ing in  his  sleeve  at  their  credulity ;  and  triumphing 
with  Van  Wyck  and  Clinton,  at  the  facility  with  which 
the  wellborn  and  the  great  too  frequently  impose  upon 
the  weak  and  ignorant.  Such  must  ever  be  the  de- 
graded state  of  men,  who  implicitly  follow  dema- 


On  or  about  the  1 8th,  seven  days  afie-r  the  union  had 
been  concluded,  a  dinner  was  given  by  Mr.  Clinton, 
at  which  the  members  of  the  Legislature,  with  other 
leadi7ig  republicans  were  present.  At  this  dinner  the 
subject  of  the  union  w  as  the  topic  of  conversation. 
Here  it  was  that  De  Witt  played  his  part  with  great 
adroitness.  He  could  scarcely  hazard  an  opinion,  as 
to  the  policy  of  the  measure.  He  was  willing  to  sa- 
4.rijfice  his  resentments  and  his  feelings  for  the  public 
good  ;  and  was  determined  to  be  governed  by  his 
friends.  Consummate  duplicity  !  The  prevailing  sen- 
timent was,  that  the  measure  would  be,  in  a  political 
view,*highly  advantageous.  No  man  appeared  more 
gratilied  with  the  prospect  of  success,  than  William 
W.  Gilbert ;  and  all  who  spoke  of  it,  were  willing  to  i 


29 

make  an  effort  to  accomplish  it.  The  company  re- 
tired with  these  impressions,  each  doubtless  coui])li- 
menting  tiieir  great  chief  on  his  liberality  of  senti- 
ment and  disinterested  patriotism  !  • 

Where  is  the  high  and  towering  spirit  which  once 
glowed  in  the  bosom  of  many  of  our  old  and  respect- 
able republicans  ?  In  short,  where  is  the  man  in  the 
party  who  does  not  feel  a  degree  of  mortification  and 
chagrin,  at  being  excluded  from  the  confidence  of  his 
leader,  while  such  men  as  Mr.  Riker  and  Mr.  Van 
Wyck  are  selected  to  decide  on  its  most  important  ar- 
rangement .? 

The  statement  which  has  been  given  will  account 
for  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Van  Wyck,  Recorder  of 
the  city  of  New- York,  and  the  unexampled  efforts 
which  were  used  to  procure  for  him  that  situation. 

From  the  18th  until  the  25th  of  January,  nothing 
material,  relative  to  the  Z7/?/o/?,  transpired.  On  the 
evening  of  the  latter  day  it  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Clin- 
ton should  again  meet,  at  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey, 
gome  of  Col.  Burr's  friends.  At  the  appointed  hour 
Col.  Swartwout,  Mr.  M.  L.  Davis,  and  Peter  Irving,  at- 
tended. Shortly  after  they  were  seated,  Mr,  Chnton's 
name  w^as  announced.  He  entered  the  room>  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  congregated  Burrites,  accompani- 
ed by  Ezekiel  Roijins.  This  gentleman  was  conspicu- 
ous as  an  advocate  of  Col.  Burr ;  but  he  liad  not  been 
apprised  by  his  friends  of  the  reconciliation;  they  were, 
however,  embarrassed.    After  a  few  minutes  pause 


30 


Mr.  Clinton  explained.  He  stated  that  he  had  consi- 
dered it  his  duty  to  call  on  Mr.  Robins,  and  to  inform 
him  of  the  happy  termination  of  the  contest  between 
"  two  sections  of  the  Republican  party  y"  that  at  his  re- 
quest, Mr.  Robins  had  accompanied  him  home,  from 
whence  he  had  conveyed  him  in  his  (Mr.  Chnton's) 
carriage,  to  the  house  of  Gen.  Bailey, 

At  this  meeting  his  deportment  was  frank  and  open; 
and  if  I  am  not  much  deceived,  he  made  an  impres- 
sion on  the  friends  of  Col  Burr,  then  present,  that  he 
was  sincere,  and  that  his  future  conduct  would  be  cor* 
rect  and  honorable.  He  ardently  expressed  his  wishes 
for  a  perfect  amalgamation  of  the  parties  ;  and  mpro'- 
mises  he  was  lavish.  Bnrrites,  he  said  mi^st  be  sent,  at 
the  next  spring  election,  from  the  city  and  county  of 
New- York,  to  the  State  Legislature.  Mr.  Peter  Town- 
send  m!/st  represent  Orange  county.  Mr.  Joseph  Annin, 
of  the  Senate,  mi/st  be  chosen  a  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  Appointment,  if  sutticient  interest  could  be  made 
for  him — Levi  M'Keen,  of  Poughkeepsie  should  be  ap- 
pointed clerk,  in  the  room  of  Gilbert  Livingston,  whom 
he  would  remove  from  office.  To  detail  all  his  friendly 
assurances  at  this  meeting,  would  be  tedious  to  me, 
mortifying  to  him  and  not  interesting  to  the  public. 
Certain  it  is,  that  his  ingenuity  and  talents  were  called 
into  operation  to  impress  the  Burrites  with  the  opinion 
that  he  was  ardent,  sincere,  and  determined  on  a  sys- 
tem of  policy  that  should  prove  gratifying  to  them, 
and  flattering  to  Col.  Burr." 


31 

It  will  be  said,  to  repeat  the  language  of  the  Author, 
Marcus  is  an  anonymous  writer,  unknown  to  the  pub- 
lic, perhaps  influenced  by  a  spirit  of  revenge,  and  re- 
gardless of  truth :  and  it  will  be  added,  Mr.  Clinton  is 
the  leader  of  a  party,  high  in  their  confidence,  and 
possessing  their  esteem.  These,  with  many  other  ar- 
guments, will  be  urged  by  his  adherents.  They  are 
reasonable,  and  deserve  the  most  mature  and  delibe- 
rate consideration  of  the  people.  But  they  deserve  it 
in  a  pre-eminent  degree,  at  this  crisis,  when  the  press 
is  unblushingly  prostituted  to  the  vilest  purposes ;  when 
the  most  spotless  characters  in  society,  are  unfeelingly 
torn  and  lacerated  to  accomplish  party  views ;  and 
when  public  taste  seems  so  corrupted  and  vitiated,  that 
nothing  but  the  lowest  slanders  are  palatable.  He 
asks  only  a  dispassionate  and  calm  decision.  If  the 
facts  which  have  been  stated  cannot  be  well  establish- 
ed;  if  a  doubt  should  remain  on  the  mind  of  any 
man — then  would  Marcus  himself,  who  knows  his 
guilt,  plead  w^ith  that  man  for  his  acquittal. 

The  terms  of  the  contract  entered  into  between  the 
leaders  of  the  Burr  and  Clinton  parties  becoming  pub- 
lic, it  appeared  by  one  of  them  that  Mr.  Clinton  had 
undertaken  for  the  editor  of  the  American  Citizen,  that 
ije  "  should  desist  from  all  attacks  upon  Mr.  Burr  and 
his  friends — that  he  should  advocate  the  Union  in  his 
paper  if  it  became  necessary,  and  that  he  should  not 
defend  the  Burrites  as  returniti^  to  Republican  princi- 
ples ;  they  persisting  they  had  never  abandoned  them." 
The  indignation  excited  by  this  in  the  bosom  of  Mr. 
Cheetham,  can  scarcely  be  described.    He  wrote  with- 


32 

out  delay  to  Albany  in  terras  of  tlie  utmost  asperity, 
demanding  to  know  how  Mr.  Clinton,  or  any  other 
person,  dared  to  pledge  his  press  in  the  support  of  a 
measure  pregnant  wit^i  so  much  dishonor  both  to  him 
and  to  the  party.  In  a  day  or  two  he  was  deluged  with 
letters,  overflowing  with  assurances  that  no  such  pledge 
had  been  given,  nor  even  thought  of— that  Mr.  Clinton 
■was  determined  to  submit  his  injuries  to  a  jury  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  and  prove  before  them  his  entire  inno- 
cence. These  assurances,  together  with  the  subsequent 
conduct  of  Mr.  Clinton,  paciiied  Mr.  Cheetham,  though 
it  was  evident  to  those  who  conversed  with  him  upon 
the  subject,  that  he  still  cherished  a  lurking  suspicion 
of  some  freedom  having  been  taken  irreconcilable  with 
his  independence  as  the  conductor  of  a  public  Journal. 
He  betrayed  upon  many  private  occasions,  symptoms 
of  a  mortified  yet  indignant  spirit ;  and  those  who 
knew  him  intimately,  always  dated  the  declension  of 
his  confidence  in  Mr.  Clinton  from  the  period  of  the 
disclosure  above  mentioned.  The  letters  of  Marcus 
opened  the  eyes  of  thousands,  who  till  that  time  had 
been  blind  to  Mr.  Clinton's  ambition.  Many  who  had 
believed  him  a  patriot  of  \\\e  first  water ^  began  to  ques- 
tion the  purity  of  this  Diamond  of  Democracy.  The 
Republicans  of  the  Northern  District,  in  particular,  be- 
gan to  think  too  audibly  for  the  tranquillity  of  Mr. 
Clinton.  The  election  for  Governor  had  nearly  arriv- 
ed,  and  our  independent  yeomanry  suspecting  tliat 
personal  ambition  was  in  reality  the  ground  w^ork  of 
the  opix)3ition  to  Mr.  Lewis,  seemed  no  longer  to  dis- 
play the  same  zeal  which  had  been  kindled  against  him 
with  so  much  pains  by  the  partisans  of  his  political  o|> 


33 


ponent.  Their  ardour  appeared  to  be  cooling  down 
with  a  rapidity  alarming  to  the  fears  and  hopes  of  Mr. 
CUnton — they  saw  some  think  in  the  Burr  contract  be- 
speaking a  design  on  his  part  to  accumulate  power  ia 
his  own  hands,  which  they  knew  must  inevitably  be 
the  consequence  of  the  prostration  of  Governor  Lewis, 
and  which  power  would  the  better  enable  him  to  retain 
a  very  important  office  to  himself,  and  distribute  others 
among  his  obsequious  dependants.  1  hese  reflections 
made  them  slow  to  act  against  Gov  Lewis,  and  Mr. 
Clinton,  apprized  of  this  state  of  the  public  mind,  and 
feeling  his  consequence  rapidly  diminishing,  found  it 
necessary  to  come  out  under  his  own  proper  signa- 
ture. The  following  was  deemed  so  important,  and  it 
certainly  was  of  great  importance  in  the  peculiar  exi- 
gency of  his  affairs,  that  an  extra  Albany  Register  was 
issued  for  the  purpose  of  giving  it  notoriety,  particu- 
larly in  the  northern  parts  of  the  state. 

From  the  Albany  Register  Hxtr aor dinar y. 

A  nefarioin  libel ^  under  the  signature  of  Marcus, 
having  been  recently  printed  at  Poughkkepsie,  and  in- 
dustriously circulated  in  the  northern  parts  of  the 
state,  with  the  view  of  wounding  my  feelings,  and  ex- 
citing unjust  prejudices  against  me;  I  have  directed 
prosecutions  to  be  immediately  instituted  against  the 
AU'iHOR  and  publishers,  and  I  PLEDGE  myself  to  my 
friends,  that  a  judicial  investigation  will  demonstrate 


34 


the  folly,  the  falsehood  and  the  malice  of  the  charges  ex- 
hibited against  me. 

DE  WITT  CLINTON. 

^Ibanif',  26tkJan.  1807. 

The  PUBLIC  will  soon  see  in  what  manner  Mr.  Clin- 
ton has  performed  his  pledge — a  pledge  so  solemnly 
made  in  the  face  of  the  PEOPLE,  and  so  highly  ma- 
terial to  his  reputation,  both  as  a  man  and  a  politicianr 

Mr.  Clinton,  in  part  performance  of  his  sacred 
pledge,  with  a  promptness  which  appeared  to  do  him 
honor,  immediately  wrote  to  Mr.  Talmadge  to  prose- 
cute the  Editor  of  the  Barometer  for  publishing  the 
letters  of  Marcus,  and  likewise  to  Mr.  Cowdrey,  a  pro- 
fessional gentleman  of  this  city,  to  prosecute  Mr.  Mat- 
thew L.  Davis,  as  the  authbr,  taking  care  before  these 
letters  were  dispatched,  to  shew  them  to  his  Republican 
legislative  friends,  that  they  might  certify  their  con- 
stituents of  his  intention  to  vindicate  his  injured  repu- 
tation, and  bring  the  culprits  to  justice.  ^J'he  early 
and  apparently  serious  efibrt  for  redress,  produced  the 
eflect  which  Mr.  Clinton  desired  and  no  doubt  fore- 
saw. Public  opinion  again  took  a  turn  in  his  favor, 
and  Governor  Lewis  was  prostrated.  No  one  ventur- 
ed to  distrust  Mr.  Clinton's  sincerity,  but  all  gave  him 
in  advance  a  credit  which  it  had  been  well  both  for 
himself  and  the  Republican  cause  he  had  done  nothing 
to  forfeit — they  even  imagined  him  already  acquitted, 
and  the  slaiKlerers  of  his  fame  punished.    It  would 


35 


have  amounted  almost  to  the  crime  of  blasphemy  if 
any  one  had  ventured  to  assert  that  this  part  of  his 
conduct  was  nothing  but  the  trick  of  an  adroit  politi- 
cian. The  election  succeeded  to  the  utmost  of  our 
statesman's  wishes,  and  the  former  Governor  sustain- 
ed a  defeat  as  fatal  to  his  hopes  as  the  battle  of  Ma- 
rengo was  humiliating  to  the  pride  of  Austria,  Mr. 
Clinton  was  hailed  as  the  conqueror  who  had  achieved 
the  victory,  and  has  since  enjoyed  without  a  rival,  all 
the  honors  which  attend  successful  ambition.  The  se- 
quel, however,  must  test  to  Mr.  Clinton's  sincerity  in 
commencing  his  prosecutions  as  a  remedy  for  his 
wounded  reputation.  A  supreme  court  writ  againet 
r\Ir.  Davis,  was  -returned  served,  in  February  term, 
1807.  Mr.  Davis  waited  for  Mr.  Chnton's  declaration 
against  him  until  the  27th  day  of  October  following  (a 
period  of  eight  months)  and  not  finding  him  inclint^d 
to  make  any  farther  progress  in  the  suit,  he  resorted 
to  coercion  and  ruled  him  to  proceed  before  the  end 
of  the  then  ensuing  term.  No  notice  being  taken  of 
this,  a  judgment  of  Non  Pross  was  entered  against 
him,  and  the  cause  was  at  an  end.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, by  the  rule  book,  that  a  declaration  was  filed  on 
the  1 0th  day  of  December  following.  This  must  have 
been  owing  to  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Davis,  as  it  does 
not  appear  that  any  steps  had  been  taken  to  set  the 
Non  Pross  aside.  Mr.  Davis  must  have  waved  the 
judgment  to  allow  Mr  Clinton  all  possible  opportunity 
of  doing  himself  justice,  if  desirous  to  obtain  it. 

The  following  is  a  part  of  the  declaration,  we  think 
it  unnecessary  to  publish  the  w  hole  of  it,  as  the  rest  re- 


36 

lates  to  the  alleged  union  contract,  of  which  the  pub- 
lic are  already  informed. 

SUPREME  COURT. 

Of  Saturday  the  fourteenth  day  of  February, 
of  February  term,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven. 


ity  and  County  of  New-York ^  ss. 


De  Witt  Clinton  complains  of  Matthew  L.  Davis^ 
in  custody,  kc.  for  that  whereas,  the  said  De  Witt 
Clinton,  now  is  a  good  and  worthy  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  as  such  hath  always  behaved,  gov- 
erned and  conducted  himself,  and  until  the  time  of 
devising,  speaking,  telling,  writing,  uttering,  prin- 
ting and  publishing  of  the  false,  scandalous,  infamous, 
malicious  and  defamatory  libel  herein  after  mention, 
ed,  was  always  esteemed  and  reputed  to  be  a  man  of 
good  name,  fame,  credit  and  reputation,  ana  wa,s 
never  suspected  of  falsehood,  duplicity  perfidy,  or  any 
other  such  hurtful  crime  ;  by  means  whereof  the  said 
De  Witt  Clinton  before  the  printing  and  publishing 
of  the  said  false,  scandalous,  infamous,  malicious  and 
defamatory  libel  iierein  after  mentioned,  had  deserv- 
edly gained  the  good  opinion  and  confidence  of  div.^rs 
good  and  worthy  citizens  of  the  United  States,  to  '.vit, 
at  the  city  of  New-York,  at  the  first  ward  of  the  :iiid 
city,  and  within  the  county  of  New- York.  '•  :id 
whereas  the  jail  De  Witt  Clinton  before  and  at 
rlietlmeof  deviling,  uttering,  printing  and  pulii;hm§ 


37 


of  the  said  false,  scandalous,  infamous,  malicious  and 
defamatory  libel  herein  after  mentioned,  was  Mayor 
of  the  said  city  of  New- York,  and  had,  during  all 
the  time  of  his  so  being  Mayor  of  the  said  city  as 
aforesaid,  discharged  the  duties  of  his  situation  with 
great  care,  attention  and  fidelity,  and  to  the  comfort, 
benefit,  profit  and  advantage  of  good  citizens  and  in- 
habitants of  the  said  city,  to  wit,  at  the  city,  ward 
and  within  the  county  aforesaid.  And  whereas,  also 
the  said  De  Witt  Clinton,  before  and  at  the  time 
of  the  devising,  uttering,  printing  and  publibhing  of 
the  said  false,  scandalous,  infamous,  malicious  and 
defamatory  libel  herein  after  mentioned,  was  one 
of  the  senators  in  the  senate  of  the  state  of  New- York, 
and  before  the  devising,  uttering,  printing  and  pub- 
lishing of  the  said  libel,  had  as  such  senator  aforesaid? 
been  nominated  and  appointed  in  virtue  and  pursuance 
of  the  constitution  of  the  said  state,,  oiie  of  the  coun- 
cil for  the  appointment  of  certain  officers,  designated 
in  and  by  the  said  constitution,  to  wit,  at  the  city? 
ward  and  within  the  county  aforesaid.  Yet  the  said 
Matthew  L.  Davis  well  knowing  all  and  singular  the 
premises  aforesaid,  but  contriving  and  maliciously 
intending  wrongfully  and  unjustly  to  injure,  defame 
and  slander  the  said  De  Witt  Clinton  in  his  aforesaid 
good  name»  fame,  credit  and  reputation,  and  to  bring 
him  into  public  scandal,  contempt,  ignominy  and 
di -grace,  and  to  cause  it  to  be  credited  and  believed 
Uiat  the  honourable  reputation  in  which  the  said  De 


38 


Witt  Clinton  had  been  loDg  held  by  his  fellow  citizens 
had  been  undeserved  on  his  part,  that  the  public  wel- 
fare, and  the  VOICE  of  the  PEOPLE  imperiously  de- 
mandcd  that  he,  the  said  De  Witt  Clinton,  should  be 
deprived  of  the  honours  and  emoluments  of  the  offices 
which  he  held  as  aforesaid,  that  the  said  De  Witt 
Clinton  had  exercised  the  powers  of  dispensing  the 
public  favours  in  such  a  manner  as  to  excite  the  dis- 
gust and  contempt  of  all  moderate  and  disinterested 
men,  and  that  the  said  De  Witt  Clinton  had  been 
guilty  oi  falsehood^  duplicity  and  perfidy^  on  the  twen- 
tieth day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  to  wit,  at  the  city, 
ward  and  within  the  county  aforesaid,  did  falsely  and 
maliciously,  wickedly  and  designedly,  print  and  pub- 
lish, and  falsely  and  maliciously,  wickedly  and  de- 
signedly cause  to  be  printed  and  published,  a  certain 
false,  scandalous,  infamous  and  malicious  libel,  of  and 
concerning  the  said  De  Witt  Clinton,  containing  there- 
in the  false,  scandalous,  infamous  and  malicious  mat- 
ter, following  of  and  concerning'  the  said  De  Witt 
Clinton,  that  is  to. say. 

The  Plot  Discovered,  by  Marcus,  No.  1. 

TO  DE  WITT  CUNTON,  ESQ. 

Sir, 

Unaccustomed  to  the  language  of  panegyric,  I 
offer  no  apology  for  the  abruptness  of  this  address.   A 


39 

Republican  from  education,  from  habit,  and  from  prin- 
ciple, I  disdam  the  courtier. 

The  period,  sh',  is  rapidly  approaching,  when  the 
influence  of  truth  will  divest  you  of  the  ill-born  hon- 
ours which  have  enshrouded  your  brow.  The  reign 
of  proscription  will  soon  subside,  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
w^ill  be  succeeded  by  tolerance  and  forbearance.  It  is, 
however,  both  necessary  and  proper  that  you  and  your 
immediate  satellites  should  be  stripped  of  the  emolu- 
ments of  office.  The  public  welfare  and  the  voice 
of  the  people  imperiously  demand  it.  The  evil  fore- 
bodings of  a  guilty  mind  must  long  since  have  sug- 
gested it  to  you.  Nor  will  you,  in  the  calm  and  dis- 
passionate  moments  of  reflection,  condemn  this  sen-  v 
tence  as  harsh.  You  will  acknow  ledge  its  justice,  and 
in  the  language  of  the  sacred  volume  exclaim,  **  The 
arrows  of  the  Almighty  are  within  me,  the  poison 
whereof  drinketh  up  my  spirit;  the  terrors  of  God 
do  sot  themselves  in  array  against  me." 

You  have  had  the  powder  of  dispensing  favours,  al- 
most without  limitation  ;  and  you  have  executed  that 
trust  in  such  a  manner  as  to  excite  the  disgust  and  con- 
tempt of  all  moderate  and  disinterested  men.  The 
venerable  patriot,  and  the  war-worn  soldier  of  our 
country,  have  been  impiously  thrust  from  petty  posts, 
to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  idle  and  fawning  sycophants^ 
You  are  encircled  by  a  mercenary  bauil,  who,  while 


40 

they  offer  adulation  to  your  system  of  termor,  are 
ready,  at  the  iirst  favourabie  moment,  to  betray  and 
desert  you.  A  portion  of  them  are  needy  young 
men,  w!i3,  without  maturely  investigating  the  conse- 
quences, have  sacrificed  principle  to  self  aggrandize- 
ment. Others  are  mere  parasites,  that  well  know  the 
tenure  on  which  they  hold  their  ofTices,  and  will  ever 
pay  implicit  obedience  to  those  who  administer 
to  their  \vanis.  Many  of  your  followers  are  among 
the  most  prof/igate  of  the  community.  They  are 
the  bano  of  social  and  domestic  happiness.  Ser- 
vile and  dependant  panders,  no  means,  however 
wicked,  have  been  neglected  by  them  to  accomj.lish 
their  purposes,  and  to  carry  into  execution  your  man- 
dates. 

Numerous  are  the  charges  which  have  been  exhi- 
bited against  you.  Some  of  them  have  doubtless  been 
exaggerated,  and  others  have  no  foundation  in  truth. 
Sufficient  have,  however,  been  established  to  bring 
upon  you  the  odium  of  your  fellow  citizens.  It  is  not  my 
design  to  repeat  tliose  charges,  nor  to  load  you  with 
vulgar  and  unmeaning  epithets.  To  triumph  over  a 
fallen  enemy  is  cruel  in  the  extreme.  But  there  is 
one  part  of  your  conduct  which  has  excited  much  con- 
versation, and  is  but  very  imperfectly  understood.  It 
betrays,  however,  a  species  of  perfidy  and  falsehood 
repugnant  to  the  feelings  of  a  man  of  honor,  and  too 
undignified  for  the  most  grovelling  wretch  that  receives 


41 

the  patronage,  or  boasts  the  confidence,  even  of  De 
Witt  Chnton. 

The  subject  to  which  I  allude,  is  the  iinion^  as  it  has 
been  facetiously  termed.  And  although  I  shall  be 
brief,  yet  I  shall  convince  you  and  your  associates  thaj. 
I  am  no  stranger  to  the  details  connected  with  that 
transaction.  How  I  came  to  the  possession  of  them, 
s  not  material  to  you,  and  is  unimportant  to  the  pub- 
lic. The  tale  shall  be  a  plain  unvarnished  one,  curry^ 
ing  on  the  face  of  it  proofs  of  its  accuracy.  My  next 
number  shall  be  devoted  to  this  subject,  and  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God  and  my  country,  I  pledge  myself  to  es- 
tablish yoUiT  DUPLICITY  and  your  perfidy. 

MARCUS. 

The  declaration  concludes  in  the  following  words : 

By  means  of  the  printing  and  publishing  of  which 
said  false,  scandalous,  infamous  and  malicious  libel, 
and  libellous  matter  of  and  concerning  the  said  De 
Witt  Clinton  in  manner  aforesaid,  the  said  De  Witt 
Clinton  is  greatly  hurt  and  injured  in  hi«  good  name 
and  reputation,  to  wit,  at  the  city,  ward  and  within 
the  county  aforesaid.  Wherefore  the  said  De  Vv'^itt 
Clinton  saith  that  he  is  injured  and  hath  sustained  da- 
mage to  Five  ThjusanJ  Dollars,  and  thereof  he 
brings  suit,  &c. 

Cowdrcy^  Plaintiff^ s  Attorney. 
F 


42 

To  the  declaration  of  Mr.  Clinton,  Mr.  Davis  filed 
the  following  plea  and  served  a  copy  of  it  upon  Mr- 
Covvdrey.  Every  one  who  has  attended  to  the  Nar- 
rative of  the  celebrated  Union  Supper  (and  if  we  al- 
low ourselves  to  judge  from  the  unprecedented  demand 
for  our  papers,  the  public  sensibility  must  be  much 
alive  to  the  subject)  will  read  with  increased  interest, 
this  reply  of  the  defendant : 

SUPREME  COURT. 

Matthew  L,  Davis^  ads.  De  Witt  Clinton. 

And  the  said  Matthew,  by  Cadwallader  D.  Colden 
and  Anthony  Dey,  his  attornies,  comes  and  defends 
the  wrong  and  injury,  when,  &c.  and  says  that  he  is 
not  guilty  in  manner  and  form,  as  the  said  De  Witt 
above  complains  against  him,  and  of  this  he  puts  him- 
self upon  the  country,  and  the  said  De  Witt  likewise, 
&c.  COLDEN  and  DEY. 

City  and  County  of  New-York^  ss, 

Matthew  L.  Davis  puts  in  his  place,  Cadwallader  D. 
Colden  and  Anthony  Dey,  his  attornies  at  the  suit  of 
De  Witt  Clinton,  in  the  plea  aforesaid. 

Sir, 

Please  to  take  notice  that  the  defendant  will  upon 
the  trial  of  this  cause,  give  in  evidence  under  the  plea 


43 

by  him  above  pleaded,  according  to  the  form  of  the 
statute,  in  such  case  made  and  provided — that  at  the 
times' of  printing  and  the  publishing  of  several  words 
and  matters  charged  in  the  plaintiff's  declaration  as  a 
hbel,  to  wit,  the  thirteenth  day  of  January,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  and 
long  before,  and  until  that  time  and  since,  and  at  the 
several  days  and  times  herein  after  mentioned ;  there 
have  been  and  existed  in  the  state  of  New- York,  and  yet 
are,  two  political  sects  or  parties,  one  whereof,  has  dur- 
ing all  the  time  aforesaid,  and  at  the  several  times  afore- 
said, been  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Clintonian 
party,  and  the  other  whereof,  has  during  all  the  time 
and  at  the  several  times  aforesaid,  been  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Burr  party,  and  that  divers  citi- 
zens of  the  said  state  of  New- York,  have  during  all  the 
time  aforesaid,  and  at  the  several  times  aforesaid,  be- 
longed or  been  of  or  attached  to  the  said  C .'lintonian  par- 
ty, and  that  divers  other  citizens  of  the  said  state,  have 
belonged  or  been  of  or  attached  to  the  said  Burr  party, 
and  that  the  said  citizens  of  the  said  state,  who  belonged 
to  or  were  of  or  attached  to  the  said  Clintonian  party, 
held  political  sentiments  and  opinions  of  men  and  mea- 
sures, different  and  adverse  to  the  said  citizens  who 
belonged  to  or  were  of  or  attached  to  the  said  Burr 
party,  and  that  the  said  citizens  who  belonged  to  or 
were  of  or  attached  to  the  said  Burr  party,  held  politi- 
cal sentiments  and  opinions  of  men  and  measures,  dif- 
ferent and  adverse  to  the  said  citizens  who  were  of  or 


44 

belonged  or  were  attached  to  the  said  Clintonian  par- 
ty, and  Limt  during  all  the  time  and  at  the  several  times 
aforesaid,  the  said  plaintiff  was  one  of  or  belonged  to 
or  was  attached  to  the  said  Clintonian  party,  and  hath 
always  been  considered  as  one  of  the  chiefs  or  leaders 
of  the  said  Clintonian  party.  That  the  said  plaintiff 
had  during  all  the  time  aforesaid  and  at  the  several 
times  herein  mentioned,  great  infiutnce  with  the  said 
citizens  who  were  of  or  attached  to  or  who  composed 
the  said  Clintonian  party,  and  that  the  said  citizens 
who  were  of  or  attached  to  or  composed  the  said  '  Tin. 
tonian  party  during  all  the  time,  and  at  the  said  seve- 
ral times  have  been  much  governed,  inhuenccd  and 
directed  by  the  orders,  directions,  advice  or  counsel  of 
the  said  plaintiff. 

And  the  said  defendant  will  give  in  evidence  as 
aforesaid,  that  during  all  the  time  aforesaid,  ;^n(i  at 
the  several  times  aforesaid,  one  Aaron  Euir  was  one 
of  or  belonged  or  was  attached  to  the  said  Burr  party, 
and  has  always  been  and  considered  as  one  ot^  the 
chief  or  leaders  of  the  said  Burr  party,  and  ihdt  tlie 
«aid  citizens  who  were  of  or  composed  or  were  ur- ach- 
ed to  the  said  Burr  party  were  much  attached  lo  the 
sriid  Aaron  Burr,  and  always  had  great  confidence  in 
him  and  in  his  counsel  and  advice. 

And  the  said  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence 
«s  aforesaid,  that  on  or  about  the  eleventh  day  of  J:  n, 
nary,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eigiit 


I 


45 


hundred  and  six,  there  was  a  certain  agreement  or  union 
or  coahtion,  or  alliance  made  between  some  of  the  said 
citizens  who  were  of  or  bWonged  to  or  ccmposed  the 
said  Ciintonian  parij,  and  some  of  the  said  citizens  who 
were  of  or  belonged  to  or  composed  ol*  were  attached 
to  the  said  Burr  party,  and  that  the  said,  agreement, 
or  union,  or  coalition,  or  alliance,  was  suggested,  in- 
stigated and  advised  by  the  said  plaintiff,  and  brought 
about  and  effected  by  and  thrciigli  h\s  means  and  pro- 
curement, and  that  the  said  agreement,  union,  coa- 
lition or  alliance,  was  suggested  by  the  said  plaintiff 
and  brought  about  by  him  and  by  his  means  and  pro- 
curement with  the  design  and  intent  to  strengtben  his 
said  political  party  and  thereby  to  maintain  himself  and 
his  partizans  in  office.  And  the  defendant  will  fur- 
ther give  in  evidence  as  aforesaid  that  one  Thcodorus 
Bailey^  at  the  several  times  herein  mentioned,  was 
one  of  the  said  citizens  composing  or  belonging  or  at- 
tached to  the  said  Ciintonian  ]>arry,  and  that  at  the 
said  several  times  the  said  Theodorus  Baily  was  the 
agent  of  the  said  plaintiff,  and  acted  by  the  advioe 
and  procurement  of  the  said  plaintiff,  in  endeavour- 
ing to  bring  about,  and  in  bringing  about  and  effecting 
an  agreement,  couhLion,  alliance  or  union  of  the  said 
poiiticcil  parties,  and  of  the  said  citizens  who  respect- 
ively composed  or  belonged  or  were  attached  to  the 
same  as  aforesaid.  And  that  the  said  Theodorus 
Bailey  acknowledged  himself  and  was  acknowledged 
by  :he  plainuff,  to  be  the  authorized  agent  of  the  said 
pluiiiLiff  for  rhe  purpose  aforesaid.  And  the  defendant 
will  further  give  in  evidence,  that  one  John  S vvartwout 


46 


was  at  the  said  several  times,  also  one  of  the  citizens 
who  were  of  or  belonged,  or  were  attached  to  the  said 
Burr  party  and  one  of  the  said  citizens  composing  the 
said  liurr  party,  and  at  divers  days  and  times  between 
the  24th  day  of  December,  in  the  year  1805,  and  the 
1  Uh  day  of  Jannary,  in  the  year  1 806,  the  said  Theo- 
doras Bailey,  as  such  agent  of  the  said  plaintiff,  had 
divers  meetings  and  conversations  with  the  said  John 
Swartwout,  and  at  each  and  of  every  of  the  said  meet- 
ings, the  said  I'heodorus  Bailey  as  such  agent  of  the 
plaintiff  as  aforesaid,  did  converse  with  the  said 
John  Swartwout  respecting  an  agreement,  union, 
alliance,  or  coalition  of  the  said  parties,  and  that 
on  the  said  eleventli  day  of  January,  in  the  year  last 
aforesaid,  as  such  agt-nt  as  aforesaid,  of  the  plain- 
tiff, in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  said  plaintiff,  and  of 
other  citizens  of  the  said  state,  who  belonged  or  were 
attached  to  the  said  Clintonian  party,  did  agree  with 
the  said  John  Swartwout  and  others  in  behalf  of  himself 
and  themselves  and  others  of  the  said  Burr  party  to 
the  terms  of  an  agreement,  coalition,  alhance  or  union 
between  the  said  Burr  party  and  the  said  Clintonian 
party,  which  terms  were  as  follows  : 

Firstly,  that  Col,  Burr  should  be  recognized  by  the 
union  as  a  republican.  Secondly,  that  the  editor  of 
the  Ameican  Citizen  should  desist  from  all  attacks 
upon  him  or  \i\^  friends^  that  he  should  advocate  the 
union^  if  it  became  necessary  in  his  paper,  and  that  he 
should  Jiot  defend  the  Burrites  as  returning  to  repub- 
lican principles,  they  persisting  they  never  had  ahan- 


\ 
\ 

47  '^  ^ 

doned  them.  Thirdly,  that  the  friends  of  Col.  Burr, 
as  it  respected  appointments  to  officts  of  honour  qx  pro  jit 
throughout  the  state,  should  be  placed  on  the  same  foot- 
ing  as  the  ^7205^  favoured  Clintonians^  and  that  their 
Burrism  should  never  be  urged  as  an  objection  to  their 
filling  those  offices.  Fourthly,  that  at  the  approaching 
election  in  April,  the  Burrites  should  have  a  portion 
of  at  least  one  third  of  the  representatives  of  the  city 
and  county  of  New-York^  in  the  state  legislature. 
Fifthly,  that  De  Witt  Clinton  should  see  that  they 
(the  Burrites)  were  accommodated  to  any  reasonable 
amount  they  might  require,  in  the  Manhattan  Bank^ 
and  that  he  should  actually  procure  for  an  individual 
in  the  course  of  the  next  week  an  accommodation  in 
said  bank  of  at  least  eighteen  thousand  dollars. 

And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence,  as 
aforesaid,  that  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  Januai*y,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  six,  the  Manhattan  Bank^ 
in  pursua?ice  of  the  fifth  article  above  specified,  loaned 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  said  John  Swartwout<,  a 
large  sum  of  money,  to  wit,  the  sum  of  nine  thousand 
dollars^  on  the  sixtee7ith  day  of  the  same  month,  last 
aforesaid,  the  same  bank  loaned  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  said  John  Swariwoiit^  another  large  sum  of 
xnoney,  to  wit,  the  sum  of  nine  thousand  dollars  ;  and 
that  in  pursuance  of  the  same  fifth  article  above  speci- 
fied, ot/ter  considerable  sums  of  money  were  loaned  by 
the  said  bank  for  the  accommodation  of  other  citizens 
belonging  to,  who  were  of,  or  were  attached  to  the 
said  Burr  party.     And  that  before  the  said  loans  were 


48 


SO  made  as  last  aforesaid,  the  said  citizens  for  whose 
use,  accomiiiodation  and  beneii':  they  were  made,  could 
7iot  procure  <v.7y  Ioutis  or  disco?/ nts  from  the  said  hank, 
and  that  when  the  said  .several  loans  were  so  made, 
the  said  plaintiff  w^as  a  director  of  the  said  bank. 

And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence  as 
afore.said,  i\\2it  previously  to  the  sixteenth  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1806,  to  wit,  oil  the  tJdrtctnth  day  of  the  same 
month,  in  the  same  year,  the  said  temn  of  the  said 
agreement,  union,  alliance  or  coalition  betw^een  the 
said  Clintonian  party  and  the  said  Burr  party,  'were 
commurucatcd  to  the  said  plaintiffs  and  that  on  the  same 
sixteenth  day  of  January  Jast  aforesaid,  the  said  John 
Svvartwout  and  ilie  plaintiff  had  an  interview  or  meet- 
ings and  the  said  plaintiff  did  then  express  his  appro- 
hatic7i  of,  and  give  his  assent  to  the  agreement,  union 
or  coalition  of  the  said  parties  upon  the  terms  afore^iaid. 
And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence  as 
aforesaid,  that  after  the  said  agreement,  union,  alliance 
or  coalition  had  been  made  aforesaid,  upon  the  terms 
aforesaid,  and  after  the  said  plaintiff^  had  approved. 
thereof  as  aforesaid,  and  after  the  said  ter7ns  had  been 
\n  part  performed  by  loans  from  the  Manhattan  Bank, 
as  aforesaid,  to  wit,  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  the  said 
month  of  January  last,  aforesaid,  the  plaintiff  did /Jz-t'- 
tend  'di\\({  give  out  m.  speeches  to  divers  citizens  who 
were  also  attached  to  and  belonged  to,  or  were  of  the 
said  Clintonian  party,  that  no  agreement,  or  union,  or 
coalition,  had  been  formed  bctv»een  the  aid  Crijv.)ni. 
'AW  party  and  the  said  Burr  party ;  or  between  members 


49 

of  the  one  and  the  other  of  the  said  parties ;  but  ex- 
pressed his  desire  that  there  should  be  an  union,  iilli" 
ance,  or  agreement,  or  coalition  between  the  said  par- 
ties, and  did  solicit  divers  persons  to  aid  and.  assist  in 
bringing  about  an  agreement,  or  union,  or  coalition,  or 
alliance,  between  the  said  parties.  And  the  defendant 
will  further  give  in  evidence  as  aforesaid,  that  during 
all  the  time  aforesaid,  and  at  the  several  times  herein 
mentioned,  there  was  a  public  newspaper  printed 
and  published  in  the  city  of  New- York,  called  the 
American  Citizen^  edited  by  one  James  Cheetham,  and 
that  previous  to  the  making  of  the  said  terms  and 
agreement  aforesaid,  the  said  James  Cheetham  had, 
for  years  in  the  said  public  newspaper,  vilhiied,  not 
only  the  said  Aaron  Burr,  but  many  citizens  who  were 
attach,  d  to  or  belonged  to  the  said  Burr  party,  and  re- 
presented in  the  said  public  newspaper  the  said  Aaron 
Burr  and  the  citizens  who  were  the  friends  of  the  said 
Aaron  Burr,  and  who  belonged  or  were  of  or  attached 
to  the  said  Burr  party,  with  abandonment  of  principle, 
and  with  being  a  *'  vile  and  daring  faction,"  and  that 
after  the  said  agreement,  alliance,  union,  or  coalition 
of  the  said  parties,  the  said  James  Cheetham,  in  the 
said  pubUc  newspaper,  complimented  and  panegyriz-  d 
citizens  who  were  attached  or  belonged  to  the  j^ald 
Burr  party,  for  their  "  eminent  services  as  Republi- 
cans ! — and  for  their  inflexible  attachment  to  the  said 
Aaron  Burr !" 

And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence  as 
aforesaid,  that  on  the  21th  day  of  January,  in  the  year 

G 


50 


last  aforesaid,  the  said  plaintiff  and  the  said  John 
Swartvvout,  and  the  defendant,  and  one  Peter  Irving, 
and  one  Ezekiel  Robins,  (whicli  said  defendant,  Peter 
and  Ezekiel  were  at  all  times  herein  mon':ioned  citizens 
of,  or  were  attached,  or  were  belonging  to  the  said 
Burr  party)  had  a  meeting.  That  tJie  said  Ezekiel 
was  brought  to  the  said  meeting  by  the  said  plaintiff, 
and  was  informed  by.  the  said  plaintiff  of  the  agree- 
ment, or  coalition,  or  union,  or  alliance  aforesaid,  and 
of  the  terms  thereof,  or  some  of  them,  and  that  the 
said  plaintiff  at  the  said  meeting  spoke  of  the  said 
agreement  or  union,  or  alliance,  or  coalition  be- 
tween the  said  parties,  and  expressed  his  satisfac- 
tion therewith,  and  approbation  thereof  And  that 
the  said  plaintiff  at  the  said  meeting  made  many 
3>romises  to  the  citizens  who  belonged  or  were  at- 
tached to,  or  Avere  of  the  said  Burr  party,  who  were 
present.  And  that  the  said  plaintiff  at  the  said  meet- 
ing expressed  himself  in  \Yords  to  the  following  ef- 
fect : — *^  That  Burrites  must  be  sent  the  then  next 
spring  election  from  the  city  and  county  of  New- 
York  to  the  state  legislature.  That  Mr.  Peter  Town- 
send  ?7i:/st  re])resent  Orange  county,  Mr.  Joseph  Annin 
of  the  Senate  ??y/st  be  chosen  member  of  the  Council 
of  Appointment,  if  sufficient  interest  could  be  made 
for  him.  That  Levi  M'Keen  should  be  appointed  Clerk 
in  the  room  of  Gilbert  Livingston,  who  he  (the  said 
plaintiff)  would  REMOVE  FROM  OFFICE.'' 

And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence, 
that  at  the  said  meeting,  last  aforesaid,  the  said  plain- 


51 


tiff  solicited  one  of  the  persons  there  present,  viz.  the 
said  defendant,  to  set  off  immediately  for  Or.aige 
county  to  visit  the  aforesaid  Peter  Tovvnsend,  and  to 
communicate  to  him  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the 
said  union,  reconcihation  or  compromise,  and  to  ascer- 
tain with  certainty,  whether  the  aforesaid  Peter  would 
agree  to  the  aforesaid  arrangement,  and  act  accord- 
ingly— and  that  the  said  defendant,  in  pursuance  of 
such  solicitations  and  requests,  did  leave  the  city  of 
New- York  on  the  2  5th  of  January  last  aforesaid,  on  a 
visit  to  the  said  Peter,  and  having  received  his  ass -Uit, 
wrote  to  the  said  plaintiff  on  the  morning  of  the  -ioih, 
from  Chester  in  Orange  county,  informing  hmi  of  the 
circumstance. 

And  the  said  defendant  will  further  give  in  evi- 
dence, that  at  the  said  meeting  lase  aforesaid,  the  said 
plaintiff  was  told  by  one  of  the  citizens  who  were  pre- 
sent at  the  said  meeting,  to  wit,  by  the  said  defendant, 
that  the  citizens  who  were,  or  who  belonged  or  were 
attached  to  the  said  Burr  party,  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  communicating  and  consulting  freely  with  each 
other,  that  they  believed  that  system  of  policy  most 
correct,  and  the  said  plaintiff  was  then  and  tliere  ask- 
ed with  whom  of  his  party  they  should  confer  during 
his  absence,  if  events  should  require  conference ;  to 
which  the  said  plaintiff  replied,  General  Bailey  and 
Pierre  C.  Vaa  Wyck. 

And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence  as 
aforesaid,  that  on  the  20th  of  February,  in  the  year 


52 

last  aforesaid,  certain  citizens  who  were  of,  or  attach- 
^d,  or  who  belonged  to  the  said  Burr  party,  and  cer- 
tain citizt  ns,  who  were  of,  or  attached,  or  belonged  to 
^he  said  Clintonian  party,  met  at  a  certain  house  in 
the  city  of  ISew-York,  called  Dyde's  Hotel;  and  then 
and  theie  partook  of  a  supper  prepared  for  the  occasion, 
which  has  since  been  called  and  known  by  the  name 
of  the  ii?iio7i  supper^  at  which  supper  a  number  of 
toai^ts  were  drank  complimentary  to  the  said  Aaron 
Jiurr,  and  to  the  citizens  of  the  said  Burr  party ;  and 
that  afterwards,  to  wit,  on  the  24th  day  of  the  same 
month  of  February,  in  the  same  year  last  aforesaid, 
a  meeting  of  certain  citizens  of  the  said  state  of  New- 
York,  was  held  at  a  certain  house  situate  in  the  said 
city  of  New- York,  called  Martling's  tavern,  and  that 
the  said  last  mentioned  citizens,  so  met  as  aforesaid, 
then  and  there  passed  certain  resolutions  against  the 
^aid  union,  alliance,  agreement  or  coalition  between 
\\\Q  said  Clintonian  party  and  the  said  Burr  party,  or 
between  certain  citizens  belonging  to  the  said  Clintonian 
party  and  certain  citizens  belonging  to  the  said  Burr 
party ;  and  that  afterwards/,  to  wit,  on  the  third  day 
of  March,  in  the  same  year  last  aforesaid,  the  said 
ijlaintiff  wrote  a  certain  letter  to  the  said  1  heodorus  Bai- 
ley, bearing  date  op  the  same  day  and  year  last  afore- 
i-aici,  which  said  lettc  r  w-as  received  by  the  saidTheodo- 
rus  Bailey;  in  which  letter,  auiong  other  things,  the  said 
)  laintill  says  in  subsfance,  "  that  he  the  said  pwinuff 
hoped  the  inipriidcjice  of  his  friends  at  Dyde's  will  be 
.overlooked  ;  that  to  receive  \\\QBi4rriUsis  hnivrrsaVy 
('■  jccable^  but  that  if  this  rccejHion  should  be  tai/2tt4 


with  promises  of  office^  it  would  be  ruin  to  your  cause ; 
that  it  was  reported  a  treaty  had  been  formed  consist- 
ing Qi  five  articles,  one  of  which  was  that  William  P. 
Van  Ness  should  be  Secretary  of  state,  and  another 
that  Col.  Burr  [the  said  Aaron  Burr  meaning]  should 
be  Governor;  and  that  this  treaty  had  been  shown  to 
Mr.  Eppes,  the  President's  son-in  law — that  prompt 
and  efficient  measures  should  be  taken  to  contradict 
these  infamous  falsehood S'-^Qth2i\)S  the  most  proper  mode 
would  be  to  require  frank  and  explicit  declarations 
from  gentlemen  of  the  Burr  party." 

And  the  defendant  will  further  give  in  evidence, 
that  before  the  plaintiff  wrote  the  said  last  mentioned 
letter,  to  wit,  at  the  said  meeting  on  the  twenty-fourth 
of  January  in  the  year  last  aforesaid,  as  well  as  on 
other  days  and  times,  the  said  plaintiff  had  made 
many  promises  of  offices  to  citizens  who  belonged  or 
were  attached  to  the  said  Burr  party,  and  that  these 
promises  were  made  upon  the  '*  express  condition  and 
consideration  of  the  said  union  of  the  said  Clintonian 
and  iJurr  parties,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  terms  or  ar- 
ticles of  agreement  aforesaid.'* 

And  the  said  defendant  will  further  give  in  evi- 
dence as  aforesaid,  that  at  the  time, the  said  plaintiff 
wrote  the  last  mentioned  letter  he  well  knew  that  there 
\vas  no  treaty  containing  such  articles  as  stated  in  the 


54 

said  letter,  but  that  the  said  letter  of  the  plaintiff  was 
an  artful  device  of  the  plaintiff. 

And  the  said  defendant  Avili  farther  give  in  evi- 
dence, as  aforesaid,  that  on  the  I2th  day  of  March,  in 
the  same  year  last  aforesaid,  the  said  John  Swartwout, 
the  defendant,  and  Peter  Irving  wrote,  and  sent  to 
tlie  said  plaintiff,  a  letter,  bearing  date  the  same  day 
and  year  last  aforesaid,  which  is  as  follows  : 

New- York,  March  12th,    1806. 

SIR, 

General  Bailey  has  communicated  to  us  your  letter 
of  the  3d  inst.  noticing  the  following  reports — 1st.  Tha 
O.  Phelps  had  told  some  gentlemen  at  Albany  that  he 
had  been  shown  a  treaty,  the  articles  dictated  by  Mr. 
Burr,  one  of  which  was  that  Wm.  P. Van  Ness  should 
be  appointed  secretary  of  state. 

2d,  That  a  paper,  purporting  to  be  a  treaty  of  five 
articles,  one  of  which  was,  that  Mr.  Burr,  should  be 
governor,  had  been  transmitted  to  Mr.  Eppes,  the 
President's  son-in-law. 

Your  letter  suggests  that  frank  and  explicit  decla- 
rations should  be  required  from  gentlemen  of  the  Burr 

party. 


55 

We  freely  declare  that  we  understand  the  con- 
ditions of  the  reconcihation  to  be  a  mutual  oblivion  of 
those  animosities  which  have  divided  the  republicans 
of  this  state  into  hostile  parties,  commonly  called  Bur- 
rite  and  Clintonian,  and  a  re-union  of  those  parties  on 
terms  of  perfect  equality. 

Mr.  O.  Phelps  disavows  having  received  any  infor- 
mation or  advanced  any  assertion  of  the  kind  ascribed 
to  him ;  he  presumes  the  report  to  have  originated  in 
conversation  with  Mr.  Nicholas  at  Albany,  in  which 
he  may  have  repeated  rumours  he  had  heard. 

The  paper,  if  any  shewn  to  Mr.  Eppes,  has  doubt- 
less been  transmitted  to  Washington,  by  some  enemy 
of  the  coALHiox.  The  non-existence  of  any  such  trea- 
ty, is  within  your  own  knowledge. 

We  are  confident  that  no  friend  to  Mr.  Burr  would 
circulate  a  fabrication  on  the  subject. 

Having  thus  made  the  declarations  required,  we 
take  the  liberty  of  requesting  some  in  return^  equally 
frank  and  explicit. 

Our  frieiKis  have  been  assured  that  the  meeting  at 
Martling's,  was  the  act  of  violent  and  misguided  indi- 
viduals ;  they  have  also  been  induced  to  look  to  Alba- 
ny, where  at  present  the  different  parties  of  the  state 
are  represented,  and  to  expect  that  public  and  decisive 


56 

measures  would  be  there  taken,  recognizing  the  union 
in  terms  satisiactory  and  honorable  to  both  parties. 

They  have  therefore  overlooked  the  gross  insult  cast 
on  iMr.  Burr,  and  on  themselves,  in  the  resolutions 
there  passed.  We  now  understand  that  those  proceed- 
ings and  resolutions  are  sanctioned  by  yourself  and 
your  friends  at  Albany. 

It  is  understood  that  you  and  they  countenance  a 
report  that  the  exclusion  of  Mr.  Burr  is  a  condition  of 
the  reconciliation.  We  have  on  the  contrary  main, 
tained  that  no  such  suggestion  was  made,  no  sentiment 
but  of  respect  for  Mr.  Burr  expressed  by  the  gentlemen 
who  acted  in  behalf  of  your  party ;  and  that  in  the 
early  stages  of  the  adjustment,  the  friends  of  Mr.  Burr 
pointedly  disclaimed  any  idea  of  the  kind. 

It  is  said  that  Col.  Rutgers  and  other  influential  in- 
dividuals of  your  party  have  declared  themselves  p/fo^- 
ed  with  meetings  at  Byde*s  and  Martling's,  because 
they  would  help  to  keep  the  Burrites  down :  and  it  is 
added,  that  letters  to  that  effect  have  been  recently 
written  to  you. 

Our  friends  have  relied  on  the  sincerity  and  good 
faith  of  yourself  and  party.  Aware  that  efforts  would 
be  made  to  excite  jealousies  and  embarrassments,  they 
have  disregarded  rumours,  overlooked  the  expn^ssions 
of  individuals,  and  suppressed  their  indignation  at  the 


&1 


J)f0ceedings  of  a  public  meeting.  We  are,  howeVefj 
perfectly  willing  to  exchange  fnmk  and  explicit  decla- 
rations for  the  satisfaction  of  our  respective  friends. 
They  appear  requisite  to  remove  existing  disgusts  and 
produce  that  cordiality  of  feeling,  which  can  alone  ce- 
ment and  confirm  the  REUNION. 

It  is  proper  to  apprise  you  that  we  wish  to  commu- 
nicate your  reply  to  several  of  our  friends,  with  a  view 
t^o  obviate  erron'jous  impressions. 
We  are,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servants^ 

J,  SWARTWOUT, 
P.  IRVING,  M.  L.  D. 

And  the  said  defendant  will  further  give  in  evldcnco 
as  aforesaid,  that  the  said  plaintiff,  afterwards,  to  wit, 
on  the  20th  day  of  the  same  month  of  March,  receiv- 
ed the  said  letter,  and  that  the  said  plaintiff  never  re- 
turned any  answer  to  the  said  letter,  to  the  persons  who 
had  addressed  the  same  to  the  said  plaintiff,  or  to  any 
or  either  of  thum  And  the  defendant  v/ill  further  give 
in  evidence,  that  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  one,  the  plainiiH*  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Council  of  Appointment  of  the  state  of  New- 
York,  and  that  the  said  plaintiff  while  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  said  council  as  aforesaid,  did  vote  for  turn- 
ing out  of  office  persons  who  were  venerable  patriots 
and  war-worn  soldiers,  though  the  said  persons  had 
always  faithfully  and  competently  discharged  the  du« 
ties  of  their  respective  offices.  And  that  the  said  plain- 
tiff vo^ted  for  the  turning  out  of  the  said  persons  for  no 

H 


60 


\7a3  it  for  principle  the  party  assembled  in  full 
meeting  at  Mr.  Murtling's,  and  unanimously  parsed 
the  folio  wing  resolutions. 

"  Resolved^  That  it  is  inconsistent  with  the  honour 
and  dignity  of  the  Republican  party  in  this  state,  to 
enter  into  any  bargain,  treaty,  or  alliance  with  any 
other  party  whatever. 

"  Resolved^  That  it  would  not  only  be  degrading 
to  us,  but  injurious  to  the  Republican  interest,  silently 
to  submit  to  what  any  person,  or  persons,  may  at- 
tempt to  {\o  unauthorized  by  the  great  body  of  Repub- 
licans." 

Is  it  from  principle  that  the  same  party  after  patient- 
ly waiting  nearly  four  years  for  the  fuUilment  of  a 
solemn  pledge^  still  permit  the  man  w^ho  had  entered, 
in  their  name,  into  a  "  coalition  or  reunion  with  the 
Burrites,  derogatory  to  the  honour  and  interest  of  the 
Republicans"  to  escape  with  impunity  ? 

Is  it  itompri7Lciple^  that  in  derision  of  their  own  so- 
jemn  proceedings,  and  in  contempr  of  all  moral  and 
political  virtue,  they  still  acknowledge  the  "  unaurho- 
jited  contractor,"  as  the  leader  of  their  party^  and 
the  rallying  point  of  all  that  is  orthodox  in  Demo- 
cracy ? 

Is  it  from  principle^  that  they  refuse  to  make  any  ef- 
fort  whatever,  to  prevent  De  Wrrr  Clinion  from  again 
becoming  the  CHIEF  MAGISTRATE  of  this  great 


61 

city ;  although  his  appointment  to  such  a  station  would 
outrage  all  decency y  public  shame  and  decorum  ? 

Is  it  from  principle^  that  they  still  countenance  a 
man,  who,  to  promote  his  own  ambitious  designs,  dar- 
ed to  pledge  the  funds  of  the  MaTihattan  Bank^  for  the 
accommodation  of  a  single  individual,  to  the  amount 
of  Eighteen  Thousand  Dollars^  and  who,  possessing  the 
influence  allowed  him  by  the  Republicans,  together 
with  his  situation  of  Director,  miglit  by  these  means 
accumulate  power  in  his  own  hands,  sufficient  in  time, 
to  subvert  the  very  nature  of  our  government,  and  de- 
stroy that  liberty  which  every  American  should  so 
highly  prize  ? 

If  such  be  the  PRINCIPLES,  which  now  govern 
men,  professing  to  be  Republicans,  it  is  important  that 
the  PEOPLE  should  become  acquainted  with  them, 
that  when  hereafter  called  upon  for  their  suffrages, 
they  may  know  where  to  bestow  them. 

0  TEMPORA!   O  MORES! 


